Who has the best chance to be in the playoffs, if Euroleague will resume?
As we all know, there are 5 teams already qualified for the Euroleague’s playoff before the 6 remaining rounds. It’s about Anadolu Efes, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, CSKA Moscow and Maccabi Tel Aviv. For the last 3 available spots, there will be a tremendous battle, that’s the only reason for playing as well the remaining rounds if not the playoff could start directly. But we need exactly these 6 rounds to see who will join the qualified teams. Let’s see some of the possibilities:
- first of all, teams like Zenit Sankt-Petersburg, Bayern Munich, Asvel Lyon Villeurbanne, Alba Berlin and Crvena Zvezda has no chance to reach the last spots of the playoffs, even if mathematically there are some.
- Baskonia is almost in the same situation. They had an unconvincing season and I don’t trust them to be the revelation of the last 6 rounds
- Armani Milan is always a fighter for the 8th spot of the Euroleague’s playoff and is constantly failing to achieve it every season, in spite of the budget. The big luck for them is that in the remaining rounds they will meet only average teams, excepting CSKA Moscow.
- Olympiacos is not in the best mood this season and reaching playoff should be a miracle for them. They won’t make it.
- Valencia Basket is a strong candidate, in my eyes better than Fenerbahce and Zalgiris, squads occupying the spots in front of them. For many reasons but the best of them is they cut only 4% of the salaries when al the other clubs were cutting a lot.
- Zalgiris has left all their foreigners to go home and it looks that this season is over for them. They will compete but without making any noise.
- Fenerbahce without their salaries paid for months is looking like a vulnerable giant. They are on a qualifying spot right now but their future is not so bright.
- Khimki is a fresh team and I see them able to do it. They are currently at 7th spot with a big chance to consolidate it.
- PAO is the strongest candidate to be in the playoffs. Not only because they are at 6th spot right now, but because their core of players can focus and keep the rhythm. Even without Pitino, I trust them to be in the playoffs and if the event will be organized in Athens their chances to reach it are increasing a lot.
Photo: Euroleague
Gratian Cormos
