Zalgiris and Baskonia’s chances to reach Final 4 after game 2
Zalgiris and Baskonia’s chances to reach Final 4 after game 2
It was a big surprise for almost anybody that the underdog teams Zalgiris Kaunas and Baskonia won the 2nd game of the Euroleague playoff. I think it was never seen before that the 8th spot of the European competition to take the win on the court of the regular season champs. But after the elimination of Olympiacos last season, Zalgiris has now made a tradition by surprising better teams in the playoff.
It was a huge victory for both teams away that gives them a big hope for the Final 4 qualifiers. I am not sure that Zalgiris and Baskonia will both go further, but at least one of them will. Baskonia has bigger chances, now when almost all their missing players are back from injuries. The home court can be decisive for them in game 3 and 4 and let’s not forget that Vitoria-Gasteiz is the host of the final tournament, so their motivation has to be double. It’s a historical chance for Baskonia.
About Zalgiris I am not so sure they can repeat the performance of the last season, entering Final 4. Now, the opponent is not last year’s Olympiacos, but one of the toughest one: Fenerbahce, a squad with an awesome roster and coach.
Even if Zalgiris and Baskonia won’t qualify what really matters is they have a game 4 guaranteed so the fans will be satisfied with 2 games at home and a bigger chance to advance. At 0-2 it was almost impossible to make it. After the huge blow from game 1 of the playoffs, when Zalgiris and Baskonia were destroyed by the home team, the result of the game 2 it’s even more exciting. It seems that Euroleague is preparing a different scenario for this Final 4, not the same boring version with Fenerbahce, CSKA and Real Madrid every season.
Gratian Cormos, info@brainbasketball.net
