Betdistrict.com
The first game between these two ended 74:58. Really unexpectedly low score, while season before it was 89:67.
Nevertheless in return games many times the game pace goes completely opposite and especially in Tel Aviv and we have to take into consideration Maccabi is now with different coach and all after Žalgiris game(3 EuroLeague games) their offense is solid.
Barcelona can play that kind of pace, they have this offensive potential while at the same time their defense is not bad either(that is why my stake is a bit lower). Also to expect 23 points better performance of Maccabi from the first round might be pretentious but I believe them right now and this is also part of the betting and also they did it last season with 27 points better performance. In Madrid against Real they went over bookies expectations, against Budućnost they collected 81 points even with only 12 points in 1st QT and in Moscow against CSKA they collected way beyond what bookies and probably anyone would have expected(I believe even 16 pts more). They have beaten CSKA after 9 consecutive losses against them what surely is a sign that they are in the right momentum and I believe they are still having hopes for one of the first 8 spots on the standings, they can do it if they will continue this way, while Barcelona is pretty safe there at the moment especially if we take into account that Bayern will lose in Moscow. Something tells me Bayern and Milano might fall out considering Milano poor tactics and especially their game finishes while Bayern is a bit average team imo so Maccabi, Baskonia and Pao(probably not due to their poor away performances), two of those three might fit into those spots at least by the current forms.
I see most of the punters are backing up Barcelona but I simply can't go that way right now taking into account the shape of Maccabi and the fact that it is one of the hottest courts in EuroLeague and that their desire and determination might be on higher level. I could see a close game all in all. Barcelona after small crisis is now on a 9 wins in a row.
The reason why I believe Maccabi can score over 80 pts is their desire at first, Roll showed an excellent three point shooting in Madrid while others can join in and they have Tyus and O'Bryant- very athletic guys in the paint. In Moscow 8 Maccabi players participated in scoring significantly, so threats are coming from all positions right now. Also Barcelona had a high scoring game in Milano recently and only 5 pts win while Maccabi played 180+ points game with Milano at home.
I could see 85:83 result in this game.
Pick: Maccabi Over 80 points
Odds: 1.89
Bookmaker: ➾ Pinnacle
Stake: 6 units
Tipster: Eastwood
| TIPSTER: Eastwood | Total profit: +113.25 | Tips won: 57 |
| Country: Croatia | Total yield: +17.37% | Tips lost: 33 |
| Speciality: Basketball | Total picks: 92 | Tips pushed: 2 |
| 20.01 | • Rayo Vallecano - Real Sociedad | 2.2 | 7 | ✅ | +8.4 |
| 20.01 | • Obradoiro - Unicaja | 1.89 | 8 | ✅ | +7.12 |
| 20.01 | • Tenerife - Fuenlabrada | 1.94 | 6 | ✅ | +5.64 |
| 18.01 | • Zalgiris - Panathinaikos | 1.87 | 6 | ✅ | +5.22 |
| 18.01 | • Anadolu Efes - Darussafaka | 1.93 | 7 | ✅ | +6.51 |
| 18.01 | • Baskonia - Olimpia Milano | 1.94 | 7 | ➖ | 0.00 |
| 18.01 | • Krka - Igokea | 1.86 | 7 | ✅ | +6.02 |
| 17.01 | • Real Sociedad - Betis | 1.91 | 7 | ✅ | +6.37 |
| 17.01 | • Olympiakos - Khimki | 1.97 | 6 | ✅ | +5.82 |
| 17.01 | • Maccabi - Barcelona | 1.89 | 6 | ✅ | +5.34 |
