Euroleague preview Round 14

Euroleague is back in action today and we'll look at a few of the games. I hopped on the Monaco wagon a few years ago, after Mike James left the KD Nets, and anywhere that Trey Lyles plays we gotta support, Naptown stand up. So today we will be previewing the Monaco vs Paris game, and Real Madrid Vs Anadolu.

Real Madrid @ Anadolu Efes

Madrid 7-6, Anadolu 5-8

Going into the season, this would have seemed like a possible future playoff game. But Anadolu have had the injury bug hard lately, Shane Larkin has missed a few games, and now PJ Dozier is out also. Aside from that, their coach also got fired last week when they lost to Monaco by 40 in Monaco. So right now in Turkey it is a total dumoster fire. But it really shouldn't be. Their team still consists of 2024 Olympic Killer for France Isaiah Cordinier, ex Uindy Greyhound and Monaco baller Jordan Loyd, former NBA players Cole Swider and Kai Jones, and Iowa State guard Weiler Babb. But even before the injuries to Larkin, Anadolu was struggling and seemed like a coaching change might be coming. They were losing to teams they shouldn't, including to Turkish teams.

Real Madrid is my adopted Euroleague team thanks to former Mr Basketball from Arsenal Tech, Trey Lyles. I would have been fine with the Pacers picking up Trey to be a backup 4. He is strong, can shoot the 3, and unreal athleticism, and I guess that's what Madrid saw in him too. In Euroleague, he is similar to Lebron. When he puts his head down and drives to the basket, is he close to unstoppable with how big, fast, and strong he is compared to other players his position over there. On top of that they got flasy former Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo, former NBA guard Theo Maledon, Mario Hezonja, etc etc etc. Although it'll be tough for anyone to beat Panathinaikos on their home court, Madrid is a legit title contender.

For Anadolu to win this game it will have to be like Nembhard his rookie year against the Warriors. All of our guys are out and he may not be the step father but he's gotta step up. If Madrid overlooks Anadolu with the recent changes to their team, this game could get tricky. But roster for roster, bar for bar, Madrid is more talented, better coached, and a deeper team. They should get a win here and head out of Turkey with a win.

Paris @ Monaco

Paris 5-8, Monaco 8-5

A battle of the two best French League teams and a rematch of the French League Final last year, which Paris took in a deciding game 5. My opinion at the time, and still to this day, is that Monaco had just lost the Euroleague final, after having a 3rd quarter lead, and did not want to play that French League series vs Paris at all. Paris also had TJ Shorts on the team then. Euroleague is the trophy they all fancy, no former NBA players have their sites set on a French League title. These teams are also just coming off having played each other on Tuesday in the French league, with Monaco winning by 6.

Paris is led by MVP candidate Nadir Hifi, a guy who can step back from the block to the suburbs in 2 steps. Euroleague seems to be an elite guard league, and Hifi is Paris' version of that. Paris has been struggling this year without TJ Shorts, just missing another elite guard and ball handler on the court with Hifi. They are in bad form, having lost 6 of their last 7 Euroleague games. They do not have the depth that a lot of other Euroleague teams have, as most have many former NBA players or up and coming European players. Paris is one of the weaker teams in Euroleague, especially the past 2 months, but part of that is because the French League caps their teams at a lower salary than other Euroleague countries do, so them and Monaco have to meet both leagues requirements. Monaco however, is a different story. Paris will have to come ready for a battle Thursday at Salle Gaston Medecin.

Monaco on the other hand is becoming a powerhouse. Coming off a Euroleague Final appearance, and adding Nikola Mirotic and Kevarius Hayes, they are again a contender to be in another Euroleague Final Four. Unlike Paris, Monaco is so deep, sometimes it seems as it Coach Spinoulis doesn't know who to play. Is it going to be Tarpey or Nedovic rounding out the rotation? Then you got young talented guards Strazel and Okobo, who are regulars in their lineup, and Euroleague GOAT Mike James. Monaco is historically unreal at iso ball, with all 3 of those guards being able to hit tough buckets in your face and handles to get by you easy. Strazel and James jump to the moon on their shot. And of course they have Pacers legend Daniel Theis holding down the post too. Monaco is in decent form, winning their last 2 Euroleague games and sitting at an 8-5 record, but have not had the start to the season they would've wanted.

Monaco in this game to be is clearly the better team. They play in a best of 5 series this year (not after everyone's toughest loss of their life) and their winning. They won on Tuesday when they played also. The one thing that worries me about this game ias them playing each other 2 days seperated. Usually that doesn't go well, and it is tough to beat the same opponent back to back days. Mike James had 32 in that game so you know Paris has been studying to figure out how to slow him down. But I guess the whole world has been doing that for 10+ years and to no luck. To me Monaco still takes this game, but like a lot of their games this year, it might be closer than it needs to be.

Prediction: Monaco ML, Mike James 20+ points