Darussafaka Dogus need to win their remaining four games in order to have a shot at EuroLeague Playoff qualification but they face a stiff test when they collide with the reigning champions CSKA Moscow in the Russian capital on Wednesday.
Of course other results can sway Darussafaka’s progress towards a possible Playoff spot but for now, David Blatt’s side need to worry about their own contests.
“Certainly it will be a challenging game at any time,” said Blatt about CSKA.
“In order for us to be successful in this kind of matchup, we have to play a game of the highest level. We’re constantly working hard to play good and competitive basketball. We have done that all season. And we will continue to do that anywhere and everywhere we play.”
For CSKA, qualification for the Playoffs is already confirmed but head coach Dimitris Itoudis has not forgotten that Darussafaka handed the Muscovites their first loss of the EuroLeague season in round seven.
“It is a very important game for many reasons,” he explained. “We are chasing the spot that will give us a home-court advantage, Darussafaka is playing for playoff position. It is a good, talented team with full roster. They beat us in the first leg. So it is going to be a tough game.”
∞∞∞ EL’CLASICO WITH PLENTY AT STAKE ∞∞∞
Two weeks removed from their Liga Endesa clash, Real Madrid will host Barcelona once again in the Spanish capital.
For Real, a win would guarantee home-court advantage in the Playoffs while for Barca, their challenge is on the brink of ending, with the team missing the post-season for the first time in 11 years.
It is not a secret however that the Catalan side have struggled this season, but despite this, coach Georgios Bartzokas will not give up on his team as he vows to end the EuroLeague season as strong as possible.
“No matter the competition or the standings, playing against Real Madrid is always special,” the Barcelona playcaller says.
“We want to compete, we need to play hard for the win. We have very slim chances to qualify, and no matter what happens we are Barcelona and we have to win every game. We will have to be motivated until the end of the EuroLeague regular season.”
∞∞∞ CRVENA ZVEZDA LOOK TO MAKE PROGRESS, WHILE IT’S DEAD RUBBER IN TURKEY ∞∞∞
Crvena Zvezda host Playoff bound Olympiacos on Wednesday with the Serbian team still hoping to make it beyond the regular season as well.
A win against the Reds would go a long way to clinching that Playoff spot though and they will have the home court advantage of the Kombank Arena in Belgrade.
Meanwhile in Istanbul, Galatasaray and Unics Kazan, two teams already eliminated from contention for a Playoff spot meet in a game purely for pride.
