The standings have nearly crystalized, but they do not paint a complete picture of the 7DAYS EuroCup landscape heading into postseason play.

Stats review: Parity going into the playoffs

### High-Gravity Matchups

Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana scored important victories to climb up the table in Group B, while there was no movement this week in Group A. Virtus's win over Gran Canaria was particularly notable as the Italian team had suffered by far its biggest loss of the season in the first encounter with the Group B leaders back in Round 8. Integrating several new contributors in recent weeks, Virtus was far more competitive in Round 17, doing a dramatically better job of protecting the rim. While their play on the defensive end has been promising, their move to the fourth spot in the Group B standings is perhaps just as important to their postseason outlook as they are now in line to play their eighthfinals opponent in Bologna. 

### Wins vs. Winning Basketball

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana's win over Valencia Basket was also important as it moved the winners into third place in Group B and gave them the tiebreaker to move up again in the final week of the regular season if they beat Promitheas Patras and Valencia loses to ratiopharm Ulm. Regardless of whether Cedevita moves up, they have built significant momentum heading into the postseason. They are 8-2 over their last 10 games after starting the year with just 2 wins over 7 games. 

While they may end up towards the middle of the standings, Cedevita has been playing as well as almost any team in recent weeks as the standings only tell some of the story. Whether it's a couple of one-possession losses, major midseason roster changes, or injury issues, many things that do not necessarily reflect in their performance on the floor can pull teams one way or another in the standings over the course of a season. That is especially relevant for the group of teams vying for home-court advantage in the EuroCup. At the moment, the difference between assured home-court advantage in the single-elimination finals and semifinals and playing both of those games on the road is just two victories. 

The EuroCup efficiency landscape paints that picture more vividly. While no two teams in Group A have the same win count and just two pairs of teams in Group B do so, the efficiency differentials of the teams in the middle of the standings are as packed together as they have been at any point this season. Even lower-seeded playoff teams like Umana Reyer Venice and Liektabelis Panevezys fall near the crowded group of teams that have been jockeying for position in the top four of both groups.

The only major outlier this season has been Joventut Badalona. While getting separation on the offensive end has been difficult this year, with just 0.02 points per possession separating the first- and seventh-most efficient offensive teams, Joventut has allowed 0.06 points per possession less than any other defense this season. That is the same gap between the second- and 14th-most efficient ranked defenses. 

As the most complete defense in the EuroCup, Joventut has overscored opponents by a top-ranked 0.15 points per possession. Partizan NIS Belgrade, Cedevita, and Gran Canaria are all hovering around the 0.05 points per possession mark, but the next 11 teams in those ranks have a margin between plus or minus 0.03 points per possession. The intrigue there is that two of the five teams in that group with negative efficiency differentials have won more games than they have lost this season – further evidence of how much parity the EuroCup has this season.

The question now is how this uniquely level playing field looks through the lens of the new postseason format. More than any other EuroCup season, this year's playoffs will provide a revealing look into how far momentum, home-court advantage, consistency, matchups, and outright good fortune can take a group of teams that, on paper, have achieved similar levels of performance this season. 

### Looking Ahead to Round 18

The battle for home-court advantage is what drives much of the intrigue in the final week of the regular season. Lietkabelis has the most to gain in Group A this week. Winning makeup game over the Hamburg Towers on Monday would pull the Lithuanians even with a Boulogne Metropolitans 92 team that they'll visit in Round 18 to help determine who will get home-court advantage in the eighthfinals. 

Brandon Paul celebrates - Joventut Badalona - (photo David Grau - Joventut) EC21-RS15

Here is where you can watch the Round 18 game between Frutti Extra Bursaspor and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

TV Info,  Bursaspor vs. Buducnost

**Balcans:** SPORTKLUB 3

**Greece:** NOVASPORTS START

**In-Flight Vision:** IMG ARENA

**Internet:** [EUROLEAGUE.TV](http://EUROLEAGUE.TV)

**Italy:** ELEVEN SPORTS

**Russian Federation:** OKKO SPORT

**Slovenia:** SPORT TV1

**Spain:** DAZN

**Turkey:** S SPORT & S SPORT PLUS

TV Info,  Valencia vs. Ulm

**Balcans:** SPORTKLUB 1

**Bulgaria:** MAX SPORT 2

**Germany:** MAGENTA SPORTS

**Greece:** NOVASPORTS PRIME

**In-Flight Vision:** IMG ARENA

**Internet:** [EUROLEAGUE.TV](http://EUROLEAGUE.TV)

**Italy:** ELEVEN SPORTS

**Portugal:** SPORT.TV

**Russian Federation:** OKKO SPORT

**Slovenia:** SPORT TV2

**Spain:** DAZN & DAZN1

Valencia Basket v ratiopharm Ulm (2022-04-05T18:30:00.000Z)

Jaime Pradilla - Valencia Basket (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) - EC21

Here is where you can watch the Round 18 game between Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Virtus Segafredo Bologna.

TV Info,  JL Bourg vs. Virtus

**Balcans:** SPORTKLUB 4

**Baltics:** TV3 SPORT

**France:** MCS BASKET

**Georgia:** SILK SPORT 2

**Greece:** NOVASPORTS 4

**In-Flight Vision:** IMG ARENA

**Internet:** [EUROLEAGUE.TV](http://EUROLEAGUE.TV)

**Italy:** SKY SPORT ARENA and ELEVEN SPORTS

**Russian Federation:** OKKO SPORT

**Slovenia:** SPORT TV3

**Spain:** DAZN & DAZN2

**Turkey:** S SPORT & S SPORT PLUS

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2022-04-05T18:00:00.000Z)

Kyle Weems - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

### Hamburg needs to ride its offense

It is no secret that Hamburg wins its game behind its offense and the team needs to use that strength against a formidable Lietkabelis defense just like it did the first time these two sides played each other. The visitors rank first this season allowing just 72.1 points away from home, but when the two met in Round 4, Hamburg had one of its two EuroCup games in which it scored in triple-figures, winning 96-100. Hamburg needs that same offensive recipe in this contest, too.

### Lietkabelis must cut down turnovers

On the road against one of the top offenses in the competition, it will be imperative for Lietkabelis to minimize its turnovers. No team turns the ball over more than Lietkabelis, 14.9 per game, and goes against a team that forces far more turnovers than any other team, 16.8 per game. Lietkabelis must take good care of the basketball and play good transition defense to have a better chance in Hamburg.

In a rare Monday game, Hamburg Towers hosts Lietkabelis Panevezys in their rescheduled Round 13 game.

Keys to victory: Hamburg vs. Lietkabelis, Round 13

Hamburg Towers v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2022-04-04T17:30:00.000Z)

Kotsar is having a fantastic EuroCup rookie season, averaging 12.5 points on 60.0% two-point shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 13 games. He ranks 21st in PIR with 16.1 per night. Kotsar saw limited playing time against Lietkabelis in Round 4 but managed to be productive with 9 points in less than 12 minutes. He helped Hamburg register a 96-100 victory against Lietkabelis. Kotsar comes off a rock-solid performance in Round 17 against Dolomiti Energia Trento with 14 points, 8 rebounds and a PIR of 25.

Gagic is leading Lietkabelis's frontcourt due to his size, experience and post skills. He is averaging 11.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in less than 21 minutes per night. He has a PIR average of 10.5 in 15 games. Gagic posted 13 points on 5-of-7 two-point shooting, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and a PIR of 17 when he faced Hamburg earlier this season. At age 31, Gagic is right at the prime of his career and must use his know-how against Kotsar, who is six years younger than him. Expect high intensity and a lot of outstanding post moves in this interesting matchup.

Two of the best old-school centers in the 7DAYS EuroCup meet again when Hamburg Towers and Maik Kotsar face Lietkabelis Panevezys and Djordje Gagic.

Major matchup: Hamburg's Kotsar vs. Lietkabelis's Gagic

Here is where you can watch the Round 13 game between Hamburg Towers and Lietkabelis Panevezys.

TV Info, Hamburg vs. Lietkabelis

**Baltics:** TV3 SPORT

**Greece:** NOVASPORTS 5

**In-Flight Vision:** IMG ARENA

**Internet:** [EUROLEAGUE.TV](http://EUROLEAGUE.TV)

**Italy:** ELEVEN SPORTS

**Lithuania:** TV3

**Russian Federation:** OKKO SPORT

**Slovenia:** SPORT TV1

**Spain:** DAZN & DAZN3

Julie Trice, as the rest of her family, is very happy. The major reason for that is the fact that her sons, Travis and D'Mitrik Trice, are playing together in the 7DAYS EuroCup for the same team, Slask Wroclaw.

Trice family dream coming true at Slask

Travis Trice – four years older than D'Mitrik – joined the Polish club on October 18, 2021, right before the start of the EuroCup Regular Season. It is the point guard's second stint in the competition, after having played with Leonessa Basket Brescia for three games in the 2019-20 season. His younger brother started his professional career this season in the French League with Fos-Provence in his first season out of university.

Slask started looking for some point guard depth behind Travis, who ranks 15th in the EuroCup in scoring (14.5 ppg.) and fourth in assists (6.7 apg.). Trice felt comfortable enough at a meeting with head coach Andrej Urlep to offer his own option.

"As we were talking, he told me what they were looking for and my brother checked all the boxes. So I told him to take a look at my brother, and he said he would. Coach liked him and we signed him a few days later," Travis said, referring back to February 9, when D'Mitrik was signed by Slask.

D'mitrik Trice, Travis Trice Top 20 Plays from 01/01/2022 to 04/01/2022

"I was super happy. It really didn't hit me until I picked him up from the airport that we were going to get to be on the same team," Travis said.

D'Mitrik was thrilled to hear the news.

"It's always been a dream of mine to actually be on the same team as my brother and now that it's actually happening in my first year out of college is a dream come true. I love every moment of it," said D'Mitrik, who had been averaging 5.2 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18 minutes per game in the French League.

And Travis had been paying attention, too – even was back in the United States working ou, before he signed with Slask.

"When I was back home and he was playing \[in France\], I would have to try to sync up my workout, schedule-wise, so I could watch him play in the middle of the day," Travis said in an interview earlier in the season. "But it works out perfect now... I'm definitely locked in on every game."

So is the brothers' family in the United States – after having had to watch and follow two teams before D'Mitrik's arrival in Slask.

"I was super happy. It really didn't hit me until I picked him up from the airport that we were going to get to be on the same team."

"My mom is ecstatic. But my entire family is happy because now they can watch both of us at the same time rather than trying to watch two separate games at once," Travis said.

And D'Mitrik said: "Our mom always joked and talked about us trying to play on the same team together and we always jokingly said, yeah, we will try. But we knew how small of a chance that would be. Now that it's happened it's a crazy feeling. I know my entire family is loving it."

D'Mitrik says maybe there was a higher power at play, too.

"When Trav first called me and said it's a high possibility, my mom and family immediately starting praying that if this was meant to be then it would happen. The next day I was packing my bags to fly out to Poland. She spoke things into existence for sure," he said.

Once again, mother knew best.

Look back at all the action in the Regular Season Round 17  by checking out the best photos of the week!

EuroCup, The Top 10 photos of the week, Round 16

Conor Morgan - MoraBanc Andorra (photo Martin Imatge - Andorra) 

Danilo Nikolic - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (photo Luka Novakovic - Buducnost)

Johnathan Williams - Dolomiti Energia Trento (Photo Marvin Contessi)

Zoran Dragic - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (photo Ales Ferves - Cedevita) 

Simon Birgander - Joventut Badalona - (photo David Grau - Joventut) 

Djordje Gagic - Lietkabelis Panevezys (photo Karolio Kavolelio - Lietkabelis) 

Jeff Brooks - Umana Reyer Venice (photo Alessandro Scarpa - Reyer) 

David Dudzinski - Frutti Extra Bursaspor (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) 

Dylan Ennis - Gran Canaria Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) 

Justus Hollatz - Hamburg Towers (Photo Marvin Contessi) 

EuroCup, The Top 10 photos of the week, Round 17

Johnathan Williams - Dolomiti Energia Trento (Photo Marvin Contessi) - EC21-RS17

Conor Morgan - MoraBanc Andorra (photo Martin Imatge - Andorra) - EC21-RS17

Danilo Nikolic - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (photo Luka Novakovic - Buducnost) - EC21-RS17

Zoran Dragic - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (photo Ales Ferves - Cedevita) - EC21-RS16

Simon Birgander - Joventut Badalona - (photo David Grau - Joventut) EC21-RS17

Djordje Gagic - Lietkabelis Panevezys (photo Karolio Kavolelio - Lietkabelis) EC21-RS17

Jeff Brooks - Umana Reyer Venice (photo Alessandro Scarpa - Reyer) - EC21-RS17

David Dudzinski - Frutti Extra Bursaspor (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) - EC21

Dylan Ennis - Gran Canaria Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21-RS17

Justus Hollatz - Hamburg Towers (Photo Marvin Contessi) - EC21-RS17