There are three games on Tuesday and seven on Wednesday
At a glance: Things are starting to heat up
Straipsnis
6 Minutė skaityti
Round 7 of the BKT EuroCup season will deliver a series of big matchups across the continent, culminating with a group leader facing a challenge from a red-hot visitor. Here’s your overview of the action.
Tuesday, November 5
Trefl Sopot vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (19:00 CET)
The competition’s last remaining winless team, Trefl (0-6), will attempt to get on the board with a visit from the ambitious Besiktas (3-3). The Turkish team needs defensive improvement after allowing 93 points in last week’s loss at Wolves, and will hope that offensive leader Derek Needham continues his return to form after netting 19 points on 5 three-pointers in that game. Trefl is one of the EuroCup’s least efficient three-point shooting teams, making just 31.3% of its attempts from long range, but will hope that free-shooting guard Jakub Schenk maintains his hot hand after going 3 of 5 from beyond the arc last week at Bahcesehir.
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Joventut Badalona (20:00 CET)
Two teams requiring an upturn in form meet as Trento (2-4) hosts Joventut (2-4). The Italian team will look for forward Eigiras Zuskauskas to lead the way after he netted 17 points in last week’s narrow loss to Ulm, which also saw key man Anthony Lamb net 17 to make it five straight games with double digits in scoring. Joventut has now lost three in a row after being edged out by Gran Canaria in overtime, and needs to take better care of the basketball after committing 19 turnovers in that game. Ante Tomic ranks second in the league in PIR (23.8), but the veteran big man needs more consistency around him to reignite Joventut’s campaign.
Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (20:00 CET)
In a key battle at the top of Group A, co-leader Bahcesehir (5-1) will look for a fourth straight win with a visit from third-placed Hapoel Tel Aviv (4-2). Bahcesehir owed its victory over Trefl last week mostly to defense, along with another strong contribution from offensive guard Jaleen Smith, who has scored 20 and 22 points in his last two games. Hapoel also has confidence after a resounding win over Buducnost in Round 6, powered by 30 points from big man Johnathan Motley, whose future at the club has been the subject of speculation. The visiting team can also call upon the scoring of Marcus Foster, who netted 5-of-6 triples last time out.
Wednesday, November 6
Turk Telekom Ankara vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (17:30 CET)
Two teams tied but heading in different directions meet in Ankara, with Turk Telekom (3-3) desperate to end a three-game losing run while Cluj (3-3) is looking for a fourth straight victory. The Turkish team needs to recover its defensive toughness after allowing 101 and 89 points in the last two games, while Braian Angola has quickly become an offensive star after netting 23 and 21 points in his first two games for the team. Cluj is clicking at both ends of the floor, with its most recent win over Reyer last week propelled by another strong display from in-form Karel Guzman, whose all-round threat typifies the good balance shown by his team.
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (18:00 CET)
Boosted by its first win of the season, Hamburg (1-5) will look to build more momentum as it travels to face a Lietkabelis team (1-4) whose Round 6 meeting with Valencia was postponed. Big man Kur Kuath will look to play another instrumental role for Hamburg after recording 15 points and 9 rebounds to overcome Turk Telekom last week, and this time around he faces a good confrontation with Lietkabelis powerhouse Marko Pecarski, who averages 13 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. But Lietkabelis has the worst offense in the league, averaging just 74.0 points per game, so needs to find more overall rhythm.
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (18:30 CET)
A tie for second place in Group B will be broken as Cedevita (4-2) welcomes Bourg (4-2). Cedevita is looking to bounce back from a poor performance in last week’s home loss to Hapoel Jerusalem, despite young French center Joan Beringer further enhancing his growing reputation with 10 points and 6 rebounds. Bourg also suffered a home loss last week, with 15 points from guard Mehdy Ngouama not enough to prevent defeat against Aris. And after both teams allowed more than 90 points in those respective Round 6 losses, this game could be decided by whoever can most improve its team defense.
Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Valencia Basket (19:00 CET)
After sitting out last week following the tragic flooding in its region, Valencia (5-0) will look to maintain its 100% record with a trip to newly confident Aris (2-4). The Greek team prevailed at Bourg last week – ending a two-game losing run – behind another strong shooting performance from free-scoring guard Vassilis Toliopoulos, who averages 4.5 triples over the last four games. But attempting to outgun Valencia is a dangerous game: the Spanish team leads the competition with 99.2 points per game, propelled by impressive young guard Jean Montero averaging 11.5 points and 6.8 points per game.
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:00 CET)
Struggling Reyer (2-4) will be eager to take advantage of its trip to face Hapoel Jerusalem (4-2) to get back on track, with the hosts missing star guard Jared Harper. The runaway league leader in PIR (28.5 per game) and leading marksman (22.0 ppg.). To counter Harper, Reyer will look for inside dominance from big man Mfiondu Kabengele, who averages 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. But the Italian team also needs a more controlled game, after making 19 turnovers during last week’s loss at Cluj.
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. ratiopharm Ulm (19:45 CET)
Buducnost (2-4) will attempt to boost its playoff hopes and end a two-game losing run by overcoming Ulm (4-2), which reignited its campaign with a tough win over Trento in Round 6. A breakout performance from big man Marcio Santos, with 23 points and 11 rebounds, was key to that triumph for the German team, and this week he will have a tough battle with Buducnost center Kenan Kamenjas, who averages 9.5 points and 6.3 boards per game. The home team will be emphasizing improved defense after allowing 92 points in each of its last two games, while Ulm hopes Alfonso Plummer continues his run of scoring in double digits in every game.
Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (21:00 CET)
Two form teams collide as Group A co-leader Gran Canaria (5-1) faces a Wolves team looking for a fourth straight victory. Marek Blazevic was key to the Lithuanian team’s latest triumph with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds to help overcome Besiktas, and he faces a big battle in the paint with Gran Canaria veteran Mike Tobey, who also had a double-double last week with 12 points and 10 boards to overcome Joventut. Wolves is the fourth-most accurate two-point shooting team in the league (58.1%), while Gran Canaria is fourth best from long range (38.1%), so the areas for defensive focus are clear.