BC Zalgiris Kaunas v BC Kalev

Written by Alleks

Thursday, 02 October 2008

Zalgiris - Kalev

Zalgiris appereared in financial crisis. Kaunas municipality has not transferred money to the club and because sponsors will make their transfers only in the beginning of 2009 at this moment club don't have money to pay salaries. But even if this would not happen I would try this pick because Zalgiris level of play does not satisfy me again.

Zalgiris has absolutely no bench with Salenga, Varda the only players who have international experience and both are very weak in my opinion. W.Deane can't find his play in Zalgiris playing scheme and head coach was not satisfied with him in last him games, Woods is not at best form and only 3 players are more or less at their level P.Jankunas, M.Brown and J.Maciulius.

Kalev on other side has full roster available for this match (only Muursepp has uncertain status but mainly because I can't read estonian newspapers). They have N.Fox and J.Linehan from Bundesliga, 2 Estonian NT players, 2 big centers around 2.15m to control rebound battle and they have good defense with 62.5 pts per game from preseason games. Sure it it still hard to evaluate real level of them without watching but looking into last year results for Kalev (only 1 loss with by more than 10 points away from home to Lietuvos Rytas 66:80). I can't see them being such big underdogs in Kaunas today.

Sure Zalgiris is strong home team but this year will be difficult for them because they have very short rotation and I think that W.Deane can't substitute D.Collins, while V.Varda is a big transfer mistake. With no bench it will be difficult to push tempo and avoid break downs. I expect close game with Zalgiris win by 7-12 points. Last year Zalgiris with much stronger roster won only 91-90 at home against Kalev.

Pick: Kalev +15.5 @ 1.85 Unibet 5/10

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