Alba

Berlin's Alba recently silenced skeptics and proved that they are worth much more than many basketball experts predicted before the season. However, as the year comes to an end, Alba has faced serious problems: due to COVID-19, the head coach could not always assist the team during matches, and injuries also plagued this team. Naturally, Alba's recent results are not as good compared to earlier rounds. Three consecutive losses: 69-92 against Panathinaikos, 62-91 against Real Madrid, and 71-74 against Zalgiris Kaunas. Although the first losses were by large margins, the match against Zalgiris looked quite good, and Alba had every chance to win, symbolizing a slight recovery for the team.

Although teams are playing without spectators this season, home-court advantage in the EuroLeague still holds significant importance. Alba's team has won 3 out of the last 5 home games. They defeated Khimki, Lyon-Asvel, and Fenerbahce Ulker and lost by just one point to the well-performing Zalgiris players. It can be confidently said that playing against Alba in Berlin is not easy for any team, and the upcoming match against Baskonia should be no exception, where Alba will do everything to break the losing streak and start the new year with a victory.

Baskonia

Baskonia's team is probably one of the most unpredictable teams this season. After confident performances and good team play, the next match often follows with complete confusion and loss of the game plan. We can recall how after an away victory against one of the strongest EuroLeague teams, Anadolu Efes 77-59, they managed to score only 63 points in the next match and lost at home to the struggling Maccabi Tel Aviv team. This was followed by hopeless losses away to Zalgiris 73-92 and Bayern 66-77. Adding to this inconsistency is R. Giedraitis, who became the team's nominal leader this season but seems to have fallen into a slump after a great start and can't find his game.

Baskonia's main strength is good and coordinated fast offense, where players like R. Giedraitis and Z. Dragić shine. When the Basque's fast offense is stopped, the team does not look confident in positional attacks, leading to poorer results. Although Baskonia won 2 consecutive games in the last matches against Olimpia Armani and Valencia, the play did not look confident, and those matches could have gone either way at any moment. To win in Berlin and extend the winning streak, they will need to play much more confidently.

Prediction

This match is of great importance to both teams, as it could be a turning point for either in their quest for a playoff spot and gaining greater confidence. Bookmakers consider Baskonia the favorite, and to some extent, this can be agreed upon, but Alba, playing at home, should not be underestimated. This team demonstrates good offense, and stopping the Basque's fast attacks in defense should make it easier for Alba. The suggested +5.5 advantage at home with a 1.9 coefficient is objectively a bit too large.