Bulgaria - Sweden
- Yes: 42.9%
- No: 14.3%
- No Opinions: 42.9%
- Voted: 7
Pick: Bulgaria and over158,5 @2.310 10/10 -10.00
Bulgaria will finally have Vezenkov, with Miller-McIntyre being naturalized this time, which greatly increases their chances of saving the selection. However, in order for this to happen, they not only need to win but also concede a 14-point difference that was given by Sweden. This is not necessarily mandatory, but the Bulgarian press, coaches and players are emphasizing it because they understand that if they fail to do so, their chances will decrease significantly. There is a lot of interest in Bulgaria for this game, with tickets already sold out. The venue is small, but knowing how passionate the fans can be and how difficult it can be for visiting teams to play in such small venues, this should definitely make a difference and give the Bulgarians an extra advantage. And considering how well they played as a team with Sasha, even in the Eurobasket 2022, we can expect that these won't be defensive games and the Bulgarians won't try to close the difference through defense. McIntyre will also have a much easier time playing when he has a player like Vezenkov by his side, rather than having to be a scorer and a PG alone.
I believe that in the -14 minute mark, the Bulgarians will run, push, and won't hold onto the ball for long. There will be a lot of transition, and the Swedes are generally a very adaptable team, so if there is a fast pace, they can keep up with it. It will be very difficult for them to defend against Sasha and McIntyre, but they have options on the offensive end in all positions.
Overall, it's hard to say if the Bulgarians will be able to close the difference, but I believe that home advantage and their individual offensive class should help them at least win and secure their spot in the final games.
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