Partizan and Zvezda failed to reach the Euroleague playoffs this season, and Serbia does not have a club representative. But, on Friday evening, Monaco and Fenerbahce, that is, Barcelona and Olympiakos, will compete, and all basketball fans in our country will be able to watch Saša Obradović, Marko Gudurić, Nikola Kalinić, Nikola Milutinov and Filip Petrušev on the court.
Monaco successfully ended the regular season in the Euroleague with a score of 23:11, thus securing the third position. Home field advantage in the next phase of the competition was secured by key victories over Žalgiris and Bayern.
Mike James is an undeniably dominant figure and key playerand is expected to continue in the same rhythm during the series with Fenerbahce.
John Brown is a big contributor on defense, and so are Diallo and Blossomgame, but Eli Okobo and Jordan Lloyd still haven’t reached the level of play they showed last season.
For Monaco, the key factor will be exactly how they set up defensively. They are physically superior to Fenerbahce, and preventing the game in transition is a “must”.
Saša Obradović will have great importance from Motiejunas and Hall when it comes to racket control, maybe they will be of crucial importance.
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Monaco wants to keep their best player Mike James at all costs, with whom, as announced, they will sign a new contract.
For Fenerbahçe, reaching the Final Four was the goal from the beginning of the season, considering the composition, investments and history of the club. As for us, we have secured an excellent placement in the regular season, but we all want the next step and a new placement in the Final Four. We achieved that last season. A second year in a row among the top four teams in the Euroleague would be incredible.
Saša Obradović, coach of Monaco
On the other side, Fenerbahçeunder the guidance of a coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, has been playing fantastic basketball since the seasoned expert took over the helm of the team.
However, recent defeats to the likes of AC Milan, Anadolu Efes and Olympiakos have prevented them from keeping their place inside the top 4. They now face a thorny road ahead to secure their first appearance in the Euroleague Final Four since 2019.
The most prominent figure in the team at the moment is Nigel Hayes Davies, whose performance against Alba Berlin was historic, scoring 50 points. Additionally, his defensive ability makes him a key player in coach Jasikevicius’ plans.
Tyler Dorsey and Scotty Wilbekin are capable of destabilizing any defense with their threes, although they have not been consistent in doing so this season.
Tarik Biberovic provides fantastic games, while it will Jonathan Motley to have a key role in dealing with the centers of Monaco. Also, it is expected that Marko Gudurić to be a safe choice in key moments, which pleases all basketball fans in Serbia the most.
Fenerbahçe set a Euroleague record for most three-pointers made in a single game this season, indicating their ability to rely on outside shooting. That will undoubtedly be a key strategy against Monaco.
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Fernerbahçe defeated Real Madrid with 79:89, and Sarunas Jasikevicius, the coach of the Turkish team, opened his heart and said that he was not satisfied with the way Barcelona treated him and his family.
As we approach the playoffs, it is very clear that we are facing one of the best teams in Europe. We must be ready to show our best version. We have to play very physically demanding games. As always in big games, the details will matter, as will dealing with easy points, quick attacks and all. We have to deal with the incredible talent that their backs have.
Sarunas Jasikevicius, coach of Fenerbahce
Barcelona in the series against Olympiakos enters almost in full composition. That will not be the case for the Greeks, who will be weakened by the absence of captain Kostas Papanikolaou due to flu.
Yet, the good news for the red and whites is the return of Thomas Walkup to the training processwhich gives coach Jorgos Barkokas additional options.
The absence of a key player from the starting five is not an unusual situation for Olympiakos, whose entire season has been marked by injuries and absences.
After the defeat in the final in Kaunas and major changes in the roster, almost every player of the team was out of the field at some point. However, Olympiakos managed to overcome the challenges and place in the top eight, although it lacks the home field advantage, unlike the previous two seasons.
Maybe this very situation will allow the Greek team to play the first two games without pressure and possibly make a break that would allow them to control the series?
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Barcelona’s basketball players defeated the Maccabi team on their home court, with a score of 92:89, in the game of the 33rd round of the Euroleague, and Nico Laprovitola was the most deserving of the Spanish team’s celebration.
Barcelona excels with fast, free and open play, while Olympiakos prefers the rhythm of positional attacks.
The guests boast the best defense in the Euroleague, while Barcelona were also not far behind with an average of 79.2 points conceded per match.
However, in recent months, the Catalan team has been focused on rebounding and effective three-point shooting, which was also reflected in their matches this season.
Roger Grimauin his first year as coach of Barcelona, shows good results, although he was criticized by the public for the oscillations in the game.
On the other hand, experienced Jorgos Barcokaswinner of the Euroleague in 2013 and veteran of four Final Fours, brings rich experience to the bench of Olympiakos. Tonight’s game could also be a jubilee one for him, because he can reach his 200th victory in the Euroleague.
Barcelona rely on tandems like Laprovitolo and Abrines in the outside positions, while Hernangomez and Vesely are key players inside.
Jabari Parker has already shown his quality and deserves a new contract, while Nikola Kalinic, although he may not be as fit as before, still brings experience and quality in both phases of the game that can be crucial for the team.
Of course, there is also Ricky Rubio, who after 13 years returns to the quarterfinals of the Euroleague, now as a much more experienced player. After a long break due to his battle with depression, the Spaniard had plenty of time to get back in shape. Although he is currently averaging 5.3 points, four assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, his experience is invaluable to the team.
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On Wednesday, the Olympiakos basketball players will start the Euroleague quarterfinal series against Barcelona, and at its start, they will be without the help of captain Kostas Papanikolaou.
Olympiakos also has its key players, notably Alec Peters and Isiah Keenan, who have stood out this season, often taking the lead of the team in the absence of other teammates.
Peters, who played a smaller role last season, is now averaging 13.4 points per game on an impressive 51.3% three-point shooting percentage, while Kenan is averaging 12 points per game and nearly 45% shooting from distance.
The return of Nigel Williams Goss also proved to be crucial for the team, while the status of Nikola Milutinov and Filip Petrushev, whose participation will be known before the match, is awaited.
Although Mustafa Fal and Moses Wright have given good games in the previous weeks, it is clear how important the presence of the Serbian tandem would be for Olympiakos and what contribution they can bring to the team.
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Mega received a special invitation to the ANGT tournament, and the young basketball players of the Serbian representative will fight for the title in Berlin from May 23 to 26.
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Apart from the Red Star basketball players who were punished by the Euroleague, Partizan also suffered a similar fate.
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In the history of KK Partizan, April 16, 1992 will forever be written in golden letters. Exactly on this day, 32 years ago, the black and whites won the first and so far only title of European champions with a 71:70 victory in Istanbul’s “Abdi Ipekçi” hall over Juventud, thanks to the famous three-pointer by Aleksandar Đorđević in the last seconds. We all remember Dragan Nikitović’s legendary comment: “Sorry for being silent for a moment. I have never experienced this in my career…”. Many were silent for a moment, and then the party started.
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Triple double with Savana: Serbs are the first to attack everywhere, and here we are waiting for foreigners as if they were 16 years old!
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The Virtus basketball players defeated the Anadolu Efes team in Istanbul with 67:64 in the Euroleague play-off match. Luka Banki’s chosen ones continue their fight for the playoffs, and they will have a chance to reach it in the match against Baskonia.
Tags: Announcement Euroleague playoff matches Monaco Fenerbahce Barcelona Olympiakos Serbs play Serbs
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