Alba
Until recently, Alba Berlin was melting the sceptics and proving to be worth much more than many basketball experts predicted before the season. However, at the end of the year, Alba faced some serious problems: due to COVID-19, the head coach was not always able to help the team during the game, and injuries also affected the team, so naturally Alba's recent results are not as good compared to the previous rounds. Three consecutive losses: 69-92 against Panathinaikos, 62-91 against Real Madrid and 71-74 against Zalgiris Kaunas. Although the first defeats were by crushing margins, the game against Zalgiris looked pretty good and Alba had all the chances to achieve a victory, which symbolises some recovery of the team.
Even though the teams are playing without spectators this season, home court advantage is still very important in the Euroleague. Alba has won 3 of its last 5 home games, beating Khimki, Lyon-Asvel and Fenerbahce Ulker, and falling just one point behind a very fit Zalgiris side. It's safe to say that no team has an easy time playing against Alba in Berlin, and the upcoming game against Baskonia should be no exception, where Alba will do everything to break their losing streak and start the new year victorious.
Baskonia
Baskonia is probably one of the most unpredictable teams this season. After confident performances and good team play, the next game is usually followed by a complete loss of confidence and game plan. We can remember how, after a 77-59 win away to Anadolu Efes, one of the strongest teams in the Euroleague, the very next game saw the team scraping by with just 63 points and losing at home to Tel Aviv Maccabi, a team that has not found its game this season. This was immediately followed by desperate away defeats against Zalgiris 73-92 and Bayern 66-77. Adding to the volatility is the nominal leader of the team this season, R. Giedraitis, who after a great start to the season seems to have fallen into a hole and cannot find his game.
Baskonia's main strength is a good and coordinated quick offense, where players like R. Giedraitis and Z. Dragičius shine. Stopping the Basque fast offense does not make the team look confident in positional attacks, which is what leads to the underperformance. Even though Baskonia won 2 consecutive games against Olimpia Armani and Valencia, the game did not look confident and those games could have gone either way at one point or another. To win in Berlin and extend their winning streak, they will have to play much more confidently.
Forecast
This game is of great importance for both teams, as it could be a turning point for both teams in their quest to qualify for the play-offs and gain more confidence. The bookmakers have Baskonia as the favourite, and while this can be partially accepted, Alba should not be underestimated on their home court. This team has a good offensive record and stopping Basque fast attacks in defence should help Alba. The proposed +5.5 home advantage with a 1.9 coefficient is, objectively speaking, a bit too high.
Alba, +5,5, 1,9 kof., betsafe
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