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Brain scan and fearless forecast
The Final Four is upon us and the eyes of European basketball fans are turned to Athens. As a regular blogger on the Euorleague site, I have been asked to give my "expert" analysis and a plausible prediction to the outcome of the action in Athens. The bloggers were also asked by the powers-that-be at Euroleague.net to relive some of our Athens memories and tell some stories about some of our friends/former teammates that are competing this weekend to explain why we are rooting for them. Well, I inspected the rosters one last time just to be sure and I realized that there isn't a single player or coach on any of the rosters that I have ever met (off the court) or played with. I have played professional hoops for eleven years in several different leagues and countries, but apparently I haven't been fortunate enough to play with the elite players of 2007. As I quickly scan my brain, the only Euroleague Final Four champion that I have ever played with is Manu Ginobili, when he was a raw, talented, yet innocent 21-year-old in his first season in Italy.
Now as for memories of Athens. I think it is a wonderful city with a unique history, great climate, rabid sports fans and a wild nightlife. However, the five weeks that I spent in Athens while playing for Olympiacos coincided with the nadir of the storied club. I would love to live and play in Athens, but it was hard to enjoy Athens when the team was at rock-bottom.
So, that leaves me with simply analysis and a prediction. I had planned on surveying my teammates to get their input and give you Prokom's prediction rather than just giving you mine. However, after losing the fourth game of our semifinal series on Monday to Anwil, I didn't feel like talking to anybody, let alone strolling the aisle on the bus polling a bunch of other dudes that weren't much happier than me. So, as it is, you are stuck with my prediction.
CSKA
Why they will win:
- They will be motivated to honor the recently deceased former premier, Boris Yeltsin.
Why they will lose:
- It's just so darn hard to repeat in professional sports these days. Miami just got swept by the Bulls. CSKA thwarted Maccabi's repeat bid in 2006. Some soccer team probably did something one year and not the next year - how should I know, I'm American.
UNICAJA
Why they will win:
- Everybody loves a Cinderella story. Just like Golden State's improbable late season streak to end the regular season and make the NBA playoffs and now are about to knock off the top team. Malaga snuck out of the regular season and played their way into the Final Four.
Why they will lose:
- Come on, they might not even make the ACB playoffs, how the heck are they supposed to beat the defending Euroleague champs AND either of the giants they would have to face in the finals. George Mason's carriage turned into a pumpkin at the NCAA Final Four last season and it's almost midnight for these Spaniards.
TAU
Why they will win:
- They have the best team (in my humble opinion, of course). They have the best mix of inside/outside(Scola/Rakocevic), veterans/youth (Prigioni/Splitter), passers/shooters (Planinic/Erdogan) and food/wine (Basque/Rioja). Hey, with no Italian teams in the Final Four the cuisine battle is won by the Spaniards.
Why they will lose:
- Do you really think the Greens are going to be satisfied with watching the championship game from the cheap seats of their own arena? I can see a home team getting beat in the final game (like Kinder several years back in Bologna), but I don't see Panathinaikos being knocked out in the semis.
PANATHINAIKOS
Why they will win:
- I'm not a religious man, but two words: JESUS SAVES. Fragiskos Alvertis looks like a deity and has the record of eight Final Fours. He must be doing something right.
Why they will lose:
- They barely beat us at our place.
I suppose Flavio Tranquillo will continue his excellent work analyzing the teams for you, but that's not to say my explanation won't bring us to the same conclusion. But before I give you my ultimate prediction, I want to say thanks. I enjoyed blogging for Euroleague fans this season and I really appreciate the kind words and positive feedback I received from a number of readers. Now, as a litmus test of my fan base (my tongue is buried deep in my cheek as I type these words) I would like to propose the following: Unite as one great mass and persuade a Euroleague team, any Euroleague team - even my current team - to sign me for next season so that I can continue to blog for Euroleague.net. Of course, that is a joke. With my gaudy stats the last two seasons I'm sure there will be quite a bidding war for my basketball services for the 2008 season. Enjoy the Final Four!
CSKA 82 - Unicaja 68
Panathinaikos 71 - Tau 69
Panathinaikos 72 - CSKA 68
POSTED BY
Jeff Nordgaard - Sopot, Poland
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