CSKA

Moscow CSKA finished the regular EuroLeague season in 2nd place, trailing only the Barcelona team. Although CSKA did not show the same confident play as we saw at the beginning of the season due to injuries, the position at the end of the season shows that CSKA achieved its initial regular season goal. CSKA will enter the first match of the series after 6 consecutive victories, 4 of which were achieved by double-digit margins.

T. Shengelia, who joined the team this season, and G. Lundberg and M. Eric, who joined during the season, have integrated well into the CSKA ranks. The Dane, who has been getting more minutes after M. James's departure and who impressed Lithuanian national team fans while playing for his national team, is finding his game in Moscow. In the last 3 CSKA matches in the EuroLeague, G. Lundberg was the top scorer in the team.

In summary, it can be said that CSKA shifted into a higher gear in the last month before the playoffs and is currently playing very high-level basketball. Itoudis managed to balance the team after various misunderstandings with James and injuries during the season, so heading into the playoffs, CSKA will definitely be one of the main contenders for the title.

Fenerbahçe Ulker

Istanbul Fenerbahçe Ulker finished the regular EuroLeague season in 7th place, surpassing only the St. Petersburg Zenit team, which secured a playoff spot in the last match. Throughout the season, Fenerbahçe was one of the most unpredictable EuroLeague teams, as excellent matches against potentially stronger opponents were followed by poor matches against weaker opponents. Of course, the team's fluctuating form was also influenced by player changes during the offseason, injuries, and the COVID-19 situation, but most teams had similar problems, so it would be unfair to blame everything on these factors.

It is also very disappointing that just before the start of the playoffs, several important players in the Ulker team camp contracted COVID-19: it is unclear how long DyShawn Pierre, Bobby Dixon, Ahmed Doverioglu, Jerell Eddie, and Melih Mahmutoglu will be unable to help the team. 2 of the 5 players who will not play started in the starting five, so it is not difficult to understand the level of loss for this team. Moreover, in addition to these players being absent from the rotation, the team will also be without head coach Kokoskov and J. Vesely, who is recovering from an ankle injury.

Prediction

CSKA reached its peak form just before the playoffs, while the Istanbul club's rotation will be missing almost half of the team and the head coach. Probably, if both teams had full rotations, their capabilities would be roughly equal, but seeing the current situation, it would be naive to expect Ulker to put up a serious fight. The proposed 10-point advantage for CSKA indeed seems like a good option, as the Moscow team, regardless of the opponent's lineup, will certainly not relax at the most important stage of the season and will strive to show their true worth with full force.