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On Tuesday april 9 the basketball Euroleague 2012/2013 quarter-finals will start. This round will be played in a playoff series to the best of five games in which the teams qualified from each group will cross path the the ones qualified from the other group. With the new Top 16 format the first classified teams of each group will lay the fourth classified ones of the other group and the second classified ones of each group will play the third classified ones of the other group.
The formula is the 2-2-1: game 1 and game 2 will be played on Tuesday 9 / Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 / Friday 12 at the home of the teams best classified in their Top 16 group, Game 3 and, if necessary, Game 4 will be played on Tuesday 16 / Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 / Friday 19 at the home of the teams worst classified in their group. If necessary, Game 5 will be played on Wednesday 24 / Thursday 25 at the home of the teams best classified in their Top 16 group.
CSKA Moscow – Caja Laboral Vitoria
CSKA Moscow has proven to be one of the favorites for the title closing the Top 16 with six consecutive wins. Caja Laboral was barely able to qualify for the Top 16 but apparently the change of coach and some players changes during the season had a positive effect. Despite the improvement of Caja Laboral CSKA is much favored in this playoff series, which could win even 3-0.
Olympiacos Piraeus – Anadolu Efes Istanbul
After an excellent regular season, the Top 16 were almost normal for Olympiacos Piraeus. On the contrary, Anadolu Efes Istanbul is another team that has improved a lot in the Top 16. Both teams entered the Top 16 with a record of 9-5 so this could be a really balanced series. Last year, Olympiacos gave its best from the quarter-finals and will play at home the possible Game 5. For these reasons I consider the Greeks the favorites, maybe winning the series 3-2, but I think that every game might be a big struggle.
FC Regal Barcelona – Panathinaikos Athens
Barcelona has the best record in the Top 16 and obviously aims to win the title while Panathinaikos Athens is no longer the big team of the previous years. The Catalans are definitely the favorites even if winning in Athens will be difficult but they could close the series 3-1.
Real Madrid – Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
Real Madrid has obtained a good record in the Top 16 but lost some of the latest games, even at home. On the contrary, Maccabi Tel Aviv has a record overall not great but has won six of its last seven Top 16 games and has an experienced team with an experienced coach. In short, it’s a balanced quarter-finals series, perhaps the most balanced of this playoffs round. If Maccabi managed to win one of two games in Madrid I think it might win the series 3-1.
The winners of the quarter-finals will compete for the Euroleague title in the Final Four to be held in London between May 10 and 12.
As always, may the best win! 🙂
