Eighthfinals predictions: London Lions vs. Turk Telekom

A second-season survivor takes on a storied club making its EuroCup return this season in this eighthfinals matchup of opposites.

It's do-or-die time under the new format in the BKT EuroCup. The postseason's first round, the eighthfinals, is a win-or-go-home affair, carrying all the drama and pressure that suggests. With that in mind, the EuroCupbasketball.com editors who have been following the regular season round-by-round until now are ready to put their expertise on the line now by weighing in on which team they believe will win each elimination game. Check out their choices for Wednesday's eighthfinal matchup, London Lions vs. Turk Telekom Ankara.

London leaps forward

by Frankie Sachs

After an impressive first season in the EuroCup last year, London's run came to an end in the eighthfinals at the hands of Joventut Badalona. This season London took a leap forward to finish third in its regular season group and earned home-court advantage for its tilt with Turk Telekom. Anything short of a win and a ticket to the quarterfinals would be a disappointment. Turk Telekom is a savvy veteran squad with nothing to lose, which makes it dangerous. Steven Enoch and Tyrone Wallace are very dangerous players. However, London has too many matchup advantages and with Sam Dekker back appears to finally be fully healthy. Its talent and fast-pace should be a winning combination on Wednesday. My pick: London.

London's depth come through

by Igor Petrinovic

Both the London Lions and Turk Telekom made a strong push to get the position they wanted in the late stages of the regular season, London a home-court advantage while Turk Telekom sneaking into the playoffs after a terrible start to the season. And there is so much to like about each team. You got star guards, London's Matthew Morgan (17.3 ppg., 4.1 apg.) and Turk Telekom's Tyrone Wallace (17.5 ppg., 3.8 apg.). Each team has a super-dominant big man, Gabe Olaseni (15.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg.) for the hosts and Steven Enoch (12.5 ppg., 8.1 rpg.), and also an impactful late-season addition, like London's David Nwaba (13.6 ppg., 4.2 rpg.) and Turk Telekom's Jarrod Jones (9.8 ppg., 5.2 rpg.). Turk Telekom also has a late-season momentum, winning seven of the last nine games, but what I think London has is more help from other parties who can explode and deliver: Donta Grantham, Conor Morgan, Luke Nelson, Tarik Phillip, and of course, Sam Dekker. That, and the home-court advantage, is why I lean towards London getting through, winning its first EuroCup elimination game. My pick: London.

Rolling the dice on Turk Telekom

by Frank Lawlor

Tough call. I've flipped this one on my bracket a couple of times. Turk Telekom surged late to reach the playoffs in a tie-breaker, albeit from, in my opinion, an easier regular season group. London is 4-4 since mid-December but still took third at 12-6 in the tougher group, albeit with a losing home record. London has more depth, for sure, but in a must-win game, a tight rotation like Turk Telekom's can work. London has the edge in star power, too, but Turk Telekom's aces are well balanced and its roles well defined. The numbers say London, but since December 5, Turk Telekom is 4-0 away from home while London is 2-3 at Copper Box Arena, with one of those victories needing late heroics. It's a toss-up, but I'll take the team with momentum coming in. My pick: Turk Telekom.

London set to make a statement against Turk Telekom

by Geoff Gillingham

London Lions fans will get to see EuroCup playoff basketball at Copper Box Arena for the first-ever time when the team hosts Turk Telekom in the eighthfinals on Wednesday, and I think head coach Petar Bozic's men will put on a show for the expectant crowd. The British side got its first taste of the playoffs last year, but it had a first-round exit on the road at Joventut Badalona. This time around, London is a year wiser in the EuroCup and has a stronger roster, having added the likes of Matt Morgan, Gabe Olaseni and David Nwaba, all of whom have impressed during an injury-hit year for 2022-23 All-EuroCup Second Team selection Sam Dekker. However, Dekker returned in the British League at the weekend, scoring 17 points in 14 minutes, and I think that his presence – together with the play of Morgan, Olaseni and Nwaba – will make the difference in this game. Turk Telekom comes into this contest with Tyrone Wallace and James Palmer playing at an elite level, and Steven Enoch impressing at center as well, but I think an eighthfinals exit beckons for Selcuk Ernak's men. My pick: London.