Euroleague Week 7: Tau Ceramica vs Olympiacos

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Written by Alleks

Wednesday, 12 December 2007

Game preview

Another chapter in the budding rivalry between Tau Ceramica and Olympiacos Piraeus will take place on Wednesday in Vitoria, Spain, when the two sides clash in a big Group A encounter. The two teams are currently tied for third place in the group with 4-3 records and know that a loss will make it quite difficult to climb back to one of the top spots as teams jockey for position ahead of the Top 16. This game promises to be a real thriller, pitting the league’s top scoring team – Olympiacos with 91.3 points per game – against the no. 3 scoring side – Tau with 86.6 ppg. The game will be the teams’ sixth meeting in the last two seasons – including a Tau sweep in last season’s Quarterfinal Playofss – and their 11th since 2000. Tau has held the upper hand, winning eight so far, including all five at home. But Olympiacos won their last meeting on opening night this season, 95-90, as Arvydas Macijauskas and Marc Jackson scored 21 points apiece. Macijauskas is familiar with the rims at the Fernando Buesa Arena, having played two seasons with Tau, helping the team to make it to the 2005 Euroleague final. Tau has been in a rough spot lately, losing its last two Euroleague games, including a home defeat to CSKA that snapped the club’s 30-game home-court winning run. On the other hand, the Reds are winless away from home this season and have lost six straight Euroleague games on the road.

Team news

Tau Ceramica:
- Other than long-time injury James Singleton, Tau Ceramica has its full roster available.
- Tau is on a four-game losing streak, including Euroleague losses against CSKA and Zalgiris.
- Six Tau players average double digits in scoring. Igor Rakocevic (16.9 ppg.) is the team's top scorer.

Olympiacos:
- Giorgios Printezis did not travel to play against Tau Ceramica due to a foot injury.
- Even though he returned to action a week ago, Loukas Mavrokefalidis is out again due to a knee injury
- Panagiotis Vassilopoulos could return after missing action last week.
- L.Greer is out due the injury too

Betting overview

4 losses in a row is simply too much for Tau Ceramica. Sooner or later they should react and this game against Olympiacos is a good chance. Sure it's always hard mentally to back teams on losing streak but I will try do this today. Spahija believes in his players, players believe in their coach, team president supports both sides. But the most important that there is no panic in the roster and team is very motivated to win today (according to Spahija words on Tau official web site). Tau never have lost to Oly in Spain and I would say their are not comfortable opponent for Olympiacos.

I expect Tau Ceramica finally to wake up today because it's a big team with great tradition and at home court they can't lose this game. Before their loss to CSKA they won 30 games in Euroleague. Also their home record during last 3 season is too impressive to lay them today: 82 wins - 15 losses (46-11 ACB league, 36-4 in Euroleague)...

I am not sure that TAU will be able to stop Oly's offense under 70 points as Spahija said to Euroleague official web site, but I think that their defense will be there today at least for one quarter and this should be enough to stop Oly in the 74-78 pts range. While Tau Ceramica will score around 83-86 points because Oly's defense don't impress me these days too. And with so many roster problems I expect Tau Ceramica to win with more than 5 points difference to get better h-2-h advantage over Olympiacos.

Prediction: Tau Ceramica 84 - 78 Olympiacos

Pick: Tau Ceramica (-4) @ 1.76 BET365