Traoure kardeşimizin de konuşmaya amma ihtiyacı varmış....
Which phrase/word characterizes each of the Final Four teams?
CSKA Moscow – Ready!
I think that the team is ready! After so many disappointments in the previous Final Four tournaments, I think that it’s their time to get their hand on the trophy. The fact that their roster has been very stable all these years and that most of the players have experienced the bad taste of defeat in a Final Four will help them to not repeat the same mistakes this time.
And of course, Olympiacos and Spanoulis/Printezis are not in their way this time.
Lokomotiv Kuban – Mismatch Nightmare.
I remember reading somewhere in a… basketball website, some players from Barcelona said that Lokomotiv Kuban is a mismatch nightmare. And it’s true. They play with no real center (Anthony Randolph and Chris Singleton are power forwards in my book) and switch on the screens very often. This is what makes it very difficult to “read” their defense, which is the best in Europe right now. This is a very tough opponent from any team and they wont go down easily.
Laboral Kutxa – TOUGH!
We played against them twice in this season and they killed us twice with that unreal pressure from the guards, which started from the point guard position with Darius Adams and Mike James playing full court defense in the whole game. This is a very tough team, well balanced with talent and very good chemistry. Coach Perasovic does an amazing job there. My heart goes to them because I like their style of playing and, of course, my fellow French men, Fabien Causeur and Kim Tillie also play there.
Fenerbahce – Talent!
I see talent everywhere I look in this team. But it’s not only talent. They are very complementary and, of course, extremely well coaches. This is their second Final Four in a row so I think that they have experience on their side that will help them in achieving their goals.
Which teams will advance in the Final and which is going to be the Euroleague champion?
Fenerbahce against CSKA Moscow. I think that this will be the Final this year and the big winner will be CSKA. Why? Let’s take a look at the match-ups we have.
The first semifinal is between CSKA Moscow and Lokomotiv Kuban. In this Russian showdown, the two opponents know each other very well. I see CSKA prevailing because they also have the advantage of the depth of the roster, more talent and experience. I think that CSKA’s knowledge of Lokomotiv Kuban is a disadvantage for my former team. As I said, Loko has a specific style of playing (with no real center and lots of defensive switches) and all these are well known by CSKA. Moreover, they have the tools to counter Loko’s game. They also have my fellow French man, Nando De Colo in the wings, so I think CSKA Moscow will make it to the final and beyond.
Then we have the second semifinal, which I truly believe to be a very, very close game! Laboral Kutxa is a tough oppoinent but I think Fenerbahce has the players to sustain the ball pressure from the guards I mentioned earlier. And Fenerbahce will have a full roster with the return of Jan Vesely. Which is scary, because they managed to beat Real Madrid 3-0 without him! Still, it will be very close because Laboral Kutxa plays great basketball, has a huge heart and is led by Giannis Bourousis who is determined to prove something to the world this season.
Now on to the Final! You want to know why I think CSKA Moscow will win the Euroleague this year? I will keep it short: As I said earlier it’s because…. wait for it… they are READY!
Pick a player from each team that will be Final Four MVP if his team becomes Euroleague champion
Giannis Bourousis from Laboral Kutxa: The guy is playing like he is a new player in Europe and proves himself as an elite baller. Best center in Euroleague, hands down.
Bogdan Bogdanovic from Fenerbahce: His swag is on a hundred. He is doing everything… scoring lots of points and proving himself as a very serious guy when it’s time to hit a buzzer beater.
Nando De Colo from CSKA Moscow: How can I not name my man Nando De Colo, who is the leading scorer of Euroleague? He can make scoring 20 points in a Euroleague game as easy as playing a pick up game at the local playground. Easy Nando baby!
Malcolm Delaney from Lokomotiv Kuban: I see Malcolm Delaney as the most likely MVP if his team wins it. The leader of that fantastic squad of Lokomotiv Kuban. He proved himself as one of the Top 3 points guards in Euroleague this season. I just love to watch him play.
