The EuroLeague Season Nears Its End – Time to Identify the True Title Contenders

Source: 7bet sports betting

As the EuroLeague season slowly nears its conclusion, it’s becoming easier to make predictions about which teams have the best chances of lifting the trophy.

With that in mind, we’ve decided to break down the main contenders for the title this year — even though we all know that this tournament is just as hard to predict as your favorite casino online games.

The Clear Favorite – Olympiacos Piraeus

The Greek powerhouse came painfully close to winning the title two years ago. Back then, the Final Four was held in Kaunas, at Žalgiris Arena, and Olympiacos were seen as the top favorites to win it all. In the final, they led Real Madrid for almost the entire game, but in the closing seconds, Sergio Llull hit a tough shot that sealed the title for Madrid — something online betting sites certainly didn’t see coming.

Last season, Olympiacos had a drop in performance after losing two key players – Kostas Sloukas switched sides and joined fierce rivals Panathinaikos, while Sasha Vezenkov decided to try his luck in the NBA. However, the Bulgarian forward returned to Greece last summer, making OLY once again one of the top-tier teams in the league. Throughout the regular season, the Greek vice-champions have displayed dominant basketball and are widely considered the main title favorites.

Can Šaras and His Squad Pull It Off?

Before the season began, Šarūnas Jasikevičius’ Fenerbahce Istanbul wasn’t among the top picks for the EuroLeague trophy. However, thanks to consistent and high-level play, the Turkish side has definitely earned its spot in the title race.

Šaras has stayed true to his philosophy — build everything from a rock-solid defense. And it shows. Fener’s defense has been nearly flawless this year.

Of course, fans will remember Jasikevičius’ famous line: “We fix the defense, and the offense will come.” And indeed, Fenerbahce has found a solid rhythm on the offensive end as well. The team is likely to finish the regular season in second place, and it would be a real shock not to see them in the Final Four.

Panathinaikos Ready to Defend the Crown

Greek and EuroLeague champions Panathinaikos Athens are also playing dominant basketball. Led by head coach Ergin Ataman, the team’s engine this season has been Kendrick Nunn — a former NBA player who has made an instant impact in Europe.

While last year’s title run may have come as a slight surprise, this year PAO is viewed as a much more serious contender. If they go all the way again, few would be surprised.

The team’s depth is also worth mentioning — illustrated well by the reduced role of Marius Grigonis. Last season, he was the primary offensive weapon, but this year he's been struggling to find his place in the rotation. This speaks volumes about how deep and talented this Panathinaikos squad really is.

Don’t Count Out Real Madrid

Last year, Real Madrid entered the season as defending champions and looked absolutely dominant. However, as often happens, a team that controls most of the regular season can lose steam near the end. That’s exactly what happened to Real — they reached the final but came up short against the rising Panathinaikos.

This season, the Spanish champs have had a more turbulent ride. At one point, they were dangerously close to missing the playoffs entirely. Still, when it mattered most, Real found their rhythm and started collecting wins.

It’s clear that no team wants to face Real Madrid in a must-win game — when this team hits its stride, they are incredibly tough to beat.