ALBA Berlin (3-8) takes on Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (9-2) in an interesting showdown in the German capital on Thursday night. After a 3-0 start, ALBA has been on an eight-game losing streak. Despite its home loss against Real Madrid last week, Fenerbahce still leads the standings and is 4-1 at home this season. ALBA has beaten Fenerbahce in its last two visits to Berlin. Fenerbahce's last win at Mercedes-Benz Arena, 70-74, came in the 2019-20 campaign.
ALBA hosts first-place Fenerbahce
ALBA relies on its passing game to lift its attack. Head coach Israel Gonzalez's team leads the EuroLeague in assists with 21.5 per night. Luke Sikma ranks fourth in assists (6.4 apg.) this season, as ALBA runs its offense through him. The German champs need to get their many shooters involved, Maodo Lo and Gabriele Procida in particular, to improve their chances to win this game. On defense, ALBA needs to prevent Nick Calathes and Sehmur Hazer from dominating the game tempo.
Fenerbahce was without three of its main players – Nemanja Bjelica, Marko Guduric and DyShawn Pierre – last week. If all of them remain sidelined, Nick Calathes and Johnathan Motley should be Fenerbahce's pillars on offense. Calathes has a size advantage at point guard and Motley faces an interesting battle against center Christ Koumadje, the tallest player in the competition. Fenerbahce must try to stop ALBA from running the floor and finding its run-and-gun game. Powering the offensive boards and avoiding turnovers should be the easiest ways to limit that.