The battle for a spot in the Quarterfinal Playoffs via Group G wages on come Wednesday when Unicaja hosts rival AXA FC Barcelona at the Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain. Unicaja, which started the Top 16 with back-to-back losses on the road, overcame CSKA Moscow at home last week as center Daniel Santiago shined with 20 points. Meanwhile Barca, which edged Unicaja 64-62 in the opener, smashed Lottomatica Roma by 29 last week to improve to 2-1 as Gianluca Basile led a well-balanced scoring effort with a season-high 19 points. Both Barcelona wins in the Top 16 have come at home. These two Spanish League rivals are meeting in the Euroleague for the third straight season. Last year Unicaja beat Barca 2-1 in the Quarterfinal Playoffs to advance to the Final Four for the first time in club history. Unicaja won again when they met in December in the Spanish League as Marcus Haislip scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to push Unicaja to a 77-62 victory. The next challenge is to bring that same effort on the road for a big win, which could make all the difference in this crowded group.
Barcelona boasts a balanced roster with depth inside and outside and players who bring it all on both sides of the ball. The players to have played the most under Pascual are the guard trio of Jaka Lakovic, Basile and Pepe Sanchez, who spent the previous three seasons at Unicaja. They’ll go hard against Unicaja’s deep backcourt led by Davor Kus, Jiri Welsch and Berni Rodriguez. In the paint, Santiago teams with Marcus Haislip and Boniface NDong to form a formidable frontline that will duel with Vazquez, Mario Kasun, Denis Marconato and Jordi Trias. The fact that these teams know each other so well plus the added importance of every result at this stage of the season makes this game one to watch. Both coaches are certain to be ready to stop the other team’s stars, so while big nights from guys like Haislip or Santiago for Unicaja and Barca’s Lakovic or Sanchez could make an impact, keep an eye on the likes of Terrel Castle or Carlos Jimenez from the home team and Alex Acker or Gary Neal from the visitors to be the X-factor in what could be a colossal battle of two teams eyeing the Final Four.
Betting overview This is gonna be a real war on the field today, but my favorite is Unicaja's army because they are very very strong at home. This year they won 18 of 20 home games with average margin of 14 points. They are obligated to win this game if they want to enter Euroleague playoffs and for sure they will do their best to win this game. They are stronger than last year and have more players who can score points on constant basis against tough defence. They have more possible "goto" players. Haislip, Santiago, Welsh, Berni any of them can take a leader role in this team and if all of them find their rhytm it's impossible to stop Unicaja. I also see some advantage under the baskets where 2.14 cm triple-tower Santiago-Haislip-Ndong should dominate today against strong but not so athletic and fast Barca centers.
Barca is showing some signs of improvement in last 2 games but both games were played at home where Barca usually playing good. Away from home things can go in other way. Lakovic is not showing his level these days, but he is always dangerous player. Acker & Ilyasova played better in last game, also Basile find his shot again so there are plenty of signs that we can expect fight today from Barcelona side.
Usually when this teams meets they play very tough games. Bookmaker did a good job by setting -4.5 handicap because it is very close to fair one. Looking into stats and h-2-h history there is a good chance to see home side win by 4-6 points. But here we also have motivational & situational factors on Unicaja's side and I decided to make a medium-low stake on Unicaja to win by more than 3 points. They need to cover 2 pts loss in Barcelona and continue their mission in Moscow and at home against Roma.
Prediction: Barcelona will try to slow down tempo and limit Unicaja's fast breaks. This should be very close game in first half but that I expect Unicaja to make a short run and take 7-9 pts lead which should be held until final whistle. Defensive skills will be tested here and I would be suprised to see here 150 points game. I expect to see 130-139 points game. Predicted score: Unicaja 69 - 63 Barcelona Pick: Unicaja (-3) @ 1.71 4/10 Bet365.com
TV-Pick: Under 143.5 @ 1.84 PinnacleSports 
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Tau vs. Lietuvos Rytas
Game preview Tau Ceramica will look to clinch a spot in the Quarterfinal Playoffs when it hosts Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius on Wednesday at the Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria, Spain. Tau enters the game undefeated in Group E of the Top 16 and with its next two games at home, it is the overwhelming favorite to win the group. Meanwhile injury plagued L. Rytas, which began the Top 16 as a top seed, has a 1-2 record and plays two of its remaining three games in the road. Tau scored an impressive road win at L. Rytas three weeks ago as the Top 16 got underway. Center Tiago Splitter led a balanced Tau effort with 17 points that night. The big difference between now and then is an injury that has sidelined L. Rytas big man Marijonas Petrvicius, who recorded 18 points and 10 boards in that encounter. Combined with a previous injury to Matt Nielsen, L. Rytas is now quite shorthanded inside, leaving young Michalis Anisimovas as its only legitimate reserve behind Kenan Bajramovic and Jackson Vroman, who have a combined five starts between them all season and only one before the Top 16.
Betting overview Tau looks very impressive last few weeks in offense. Look at these numbers: 111, 103, 89, 87 and 88. This is Tau Ceramica offensive performance in last 5 games. Their players on the peak of the form right now and more of that now they have complete roster including Rakocevic who missed last 2 games and also Singleton expected to be in uniform today. Tau last 5 games average is 177 points per game and here is underestimated factor in today's line.
I can't imagine how Rytas will defend against Tau. Rytas don't have experienced center to stop Splitter, and it is almost impossible to close Tau deep guards & forwards line. Rytas was not able to slow down game tempo in Vilnius and it looks like mission impossible to try slow down Tau offense in Vitoria. Rytas finished last 5 games in BBL and Euroleague with total over162.5 and all games in Top-16 were over 162.5 for lithuanian team.
So looks like we have 2 "over" trends in this game. Tau offensive performance against fast-tempo Rytas... If I am right this game could go over 170 if not.... I think we still have chances to win this pick by 2-3 points.
Prediction: Game in Turkey showed how Rytas is going to play without Petravicius: agressive defense and killing fast breaks. They will try to repeat this tactics today and it will affect on possessions amount. Tau will make more offensive possessions and will score 88+ points again while Rytas with Eidson in-form will score around 77-84 range.
Predicted score: Tau Ceramica 92 - 81 Rytas
Pick: Over 162 @ 1.82 5/10 PinnacleSports Fenerbahce Ulker Istambul - Aris TT Bank In first game we had -7 on Aris and now -7 on Fenerbahce.. Too big difference for such short period of time and this line can't be fair. It is "public" line with for those who believe in Turkish teams in deciding season moments. I am not a big fan of Turkish teams and usually avoid betting on them. Especially in this game because Aris still have some chances in this group but they need to win by 9 points today to recover them. I expect Fener to push tempo again like they did in Greece 3 weeks ago but this time Aris will be ready for this scenarion and will fight until the end. In my opinion fair line for this game should be: -5.5/160.5 (83-77.5) so I see some value in these picks:
Aris over 75 (10Bet.com ), Over 156.5 (Bet365 ), Aris +8.5 (Bet365) KK Partizan Beograd - Montepaschi Siena I don't know what to expect from Partizan. Their coach tells a lot about tireness, low motivation for this game and don't promise anything. Looks like Partizan is not interested in Top-16 and playoffs phase for uknown reason. At least if I would be a coach this game would be a key for my team.. Maybe PAO management talked to Partizan management and asked them not to enter into direct competition between clubs for Top-16 phase? Who knows.. everything is possible.
Montepaschi on other side looks to be motivated for this game because it can bring them 1st spot in their group and qualification into playoffs. But coach also says about some fatique in his team. But Montepaschi is better side here and will try to prove it.
I don't like to bet against Partizan when they are clear underdogs and plays at home. Also I don't trust to Serbia's coaches and players especially now. I can't understand how coach can speak about low motivation for a game which could make them favorite for 2nd spot in Euroleague playoffs. All in one it's not a game I like for betting. Skip for me.
Prediction: Montepaschi to win by 4-7 points. 
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