Armani Milano takes on reigning champions Anadolu Efes in the EuroLeague playoffs, with Game 1 taking place at Mediolanum Forum on Tuesday. Hedgeout.net Team previews the series and predicts the winner.
Yiannis Bouranis
Armani Milano and Anadolu Efes square off in a EuroLeague playoff series where all bets are off. The Italians have the home-court advantage, but are not in the ideal playing condition.
Because of injury and Covid-19 issues, it’s unclear whether Armani will be at its best in the series. For its part, Anadolu Efes had many ups and downs all season long, however the postseason is a different story.
With star guard Vasilije Micic returning from injury, the Turks want to “steal” the home-court advantage and take the upper hand in the series.
The Italians swept the season series (2-0), but I expect Anadolu Efes to bounce back and win the series in Game 5 (2-3).
Photo: EuroLeague Basketball
Alexandros Tsakos
Armani Milano will have to get past the reigning champions to reach its second consecutive Final Four appearance.
The Italians will start the series at home as a result of their regular season campaign, which ended up with the third-best record in the EuroLeague (19-9). Milano lost the No.2 seed to Olympiacos in the tiebreaker and will face the surging Anadolu Efes.
Milano is a pretty balanced team, being among the top squads defensively in the league, allowing just 72.0 points per contest.
The Italian powerhouse will meet one of the most prolific scoring teams in the competition. I don’t know what’s the status of Vasilje Micic will be in the series as he recovers from a foot injury, but he will be the X-factor of the series in my opinion.
After a slow start for his team, Micic put Anadolu Efes’ season on the right track. He had more than 20 points in the last six regular season games he played with the Turks, going 4-3 during that span.
He finished the regular season campaign averaging 18.1 points and 4.7 assists per game. If Efes has the best player of the series available, then I expect the two teams to finish the best-of-five series in five games.
I still believe Milan is the better side as a team, but they also had some injury and Covid-19 issues in the most important part of the season. I expect Armani Milano to win in five (3-2).
Filippos Kassotis
Armani Milano (19-9) vs Anadolu Efes (16-12) is the most tight series in the playoffs and the most unpredictable one. The Italians have been one of the most consistent teams of the regular season, second only to Barcelona.
The reigning champions, on the other hand, had a very poor season start, but they came close to their usual standards and secured the right to defend their title.
Sadly, there is nothing wrong in saying that the problem of the one team will be the advantage of the other.
Milano has the home-court advantage, but the Covid-19 cases at the end of the regular season is a major setback for the team.
Efes, on the other hand, has the regular season top scorer and key player, Vasilije Misic at pits. A return of Micic to the lineup could be the turning point for the Turks in the series.
One thing is certain. Whoever reaches the Final Four will be a favorite for this season’s championship, if in good condition. My guess is that this will be Anadolu Efes (2-3).
Photo: EuroLeague Basketball
Dimitris Georgiopoulos
Armani Milano (19-9) seeks its second consecutive Final Four appearance. Ettore Messina’s guys performed really well throughout the season. They were consistent both at home and away (9-5, highest in the league).
They have their sights set on the trophy and to do so, they have to eliminate the reigning champions. Anadolu Efes struggled early in the season.
However, the Turkish side has the quality in players like Shane Larkin (averaging 14.6 points and 5.3 assists) and regular season’s top scorer Vasilije Micic (averaging 18.1 points) to overcome the Italians.
Milano swept the season series (75-71 and 77-83). I believe Anadolu Efes can win at least one game in Italy and take over the home-court advantage.
My prediction is that they will qualify for the Final Four, winning the series 1-3.
Photo: EuroLeague Basketball
Aggelos Nikolopoulos
Without any doubt, it’s the toughest and most unpredictable series of this year’s playoffs. The reigning champions against the 3rd team of the regular season.
For sure it was the worst opponent for Armani, since the third place, theoretically, gives its holder favorable conditions (home-court advantage, better opponent) in view of the playoffs.
But, we all know, that Efes can easily make the break and “steal” the home-court advantage.
Armani was better than Anadolu Efes throughout the year. Beyond their spot difference in the standings, Milano swept the series vs Efes (2-0), something that proves my words.
Generally, the Turkish side had a not so good year, given its players’ quality, finishing sixth eventually.
Of course, no one can underestimate the champions and a team like Anadolu, which in a good day for them, can… smash anyone!
Armani had a good presence, generally, but in the last two months they lost their stability and the rhythm that gave them the chance to be in the top four spots for the entire regular season.
Anyway, a really tough series is expected and there is no room for predictions. But I will say that we’ll have five games and I believe in Armani Milano. So, the Milanese will go to Belgrade with a 3-2 series win.
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