The Euroleague Final is here and we have the surprise team of the season Anadolu Efes take on 7 time champions CSKA Moscow for the trophy!
Anadolu Efes
It’s been quite the season so far for Anadolu Efes who will have reached their first ever Euroleague Final and will seek to win their first ever top tier European basketball trophy. Efes were 20-10 in the Regular Season and then went on to beat Barcelona 3-2 in the QF Series following it up with an unbelievable 92-73 win against what were the 1st seeded and also their country rivals Fenerbache who were many people’s pick to win the whole thing. Efes have been known for their explosive offensive play as they are the 4th highest scoring team at 84.7 ppg this season which has led them for such a successful season.
The key player to watch here is Shane Larkin for Efes. Larkin has been playing absolutely out of his mind lately and has been elevating his game within every round. After only averaging 10.1 ppg in the Regular Season mainly to his slow start to the season, he then went on to average 19.6 ppg against Barcelona in the 5 game series in the Quarter Finals and to top that off he put in one of the greatest Euroleague performances ever in the Semi Final against Fenerbache when he posted 30 pts on 9/14 shooting, also grabbing 7 rebounds dishing 7 assisting and posting a PIR of 43. It is safe to say that Larkin is playing his best basketball of his career and he is a player that we should anticipate to explode in this game. Larkin has posted 3 30+ point games already this season across all rounds and 2 of them came in the QF/SF.
CSKA Moscow
Unlike Efes, this is a team that to nobody’s surprise have made the Final with their star studded squad. CSKA have always been one of the biggest favourites in the Euroleague and this season it’s the same case with them. CSKA are 7 time Euroleague champions (2nd most in the competition) and have reached the Final for the 7th time since 2006 winning the last time they made it in 2016 against another Turkish team in Fenerbache. CSKA are also known for their explosive offensive play putting up 86.7 points per game only worse than Milano so this game could very well be an offensive explosion as we have 2 top 4 offensive scoring teams. CSKA were 24-6 in the Regular Season, they then beat Baskonia 3-1 and beat Real Madrid in the Semi Final in a thrilling battle 95-90 erasing a 12 point deficit to get to the Final. CSKA have already played in this arena in these Playoffs twice not so long ago when they faced Baskonia in the Quarter Finals and won both times.
CSKA have multiple weapons that could truly hurt you, but as for player to watch we’re going to pick is Nando De Colo. De Colo is playing absolutely amazing at the moment, always been known for his scoring ability and has been exploding in the past few games especially. During the Regular Season he averaged 14 points per game with multiple 20 point games then his game really elevated in the Playoffs as he averaged 18 points against Baskonia though struggling in the first 2 games, he responded with a 28 and a 27 point games in Game 3 and 4 and then followed that up with 23 points against Real Madrid in the Semi Final averaging 26 points per game in his last 3 playoff games all in the Fernando Buesa Arena where the Final game is going to be held so he clearly loves playing in this arena and is primed for another big scoring game just like the opposite number Shane Larkin for Efes.
Betting Stats
Totals
Efes have covered 55.6% of their total point overs this season which is 2nd most in the Euroleague (20-16), though they only covered 33.3% of their overs in the Playoffs (2-4). The total for this game is 166 points which is a total that Efes have had once this season overall and that was against Baskonia on the road which ended with an Over as Efes won 92-102.
CSKA Moscow have covered 48.6% of their total point overs this season (17-1-17) and have covered 40% of their Overs in the Playoffs (2-1-2) covering each of last 2. CSKA have had a 166 point total once as well this season when they hosted Darussafaka and that resulted with an Under as they won the game 79-75.
Handicaps
Efes have covered Euroleague’s best 69.4% of their Handicaps this season (25-11) and have covered 66.7% of them in the Playoffs (4-2). Efes are given a +5 Handicap for this game which is a Handicap that they’ve had once this season when they travelled on the road to face Khimki and they covered that with a 84-85 win. Efes are 11-7 at covering Handicaps as underdogs this season (61.1%).
CSKA have covered 40% of their Handicaps this season (14-2-19), but have covered 80% of them the Playoffs (4-1) covering each of their last 3. CSKA have been given a -5 Handicap once this season and they did cover it with a 79-93 win against Bayern Munich on the road.
Recent H2H
This is a head to head that CSKA have completely owned over recent years winning 8 consecutive match ups against Efes not tasting a defeat to them since February 2013.
CSKA won the season series 2-0 with a 102-84 win at home and a 78-80 win on the road against Efes this season.
Regular Season H2H Betting Stats
G1 – CSKA Moscow 102-84 Anadolu Efes – Total 171 points – Over, CSKA Moscow covered -8.5 Handicap
G2 – Anadolu Efes 78-80 CSKA Moscow – Total 169 points – Under, Anadolu Efes covered +3 Handicap
Injury Report
Anadolu Efes: There are no injuries for Efes as everyone are available to play.
CSKA Moscow: Mikhail Kulagin remains out, but it’s not a big loss considering he’s been out for this whole Playoff run. Everyone else are healthy.
TIP OFF – 19th May 2019 – 7:30pm UK Time
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