Here below, is what the blogger's EYE has captured.
Factor 1. Euroleague's boss senor Bertomeu, does very well his job ( despite some inevitable complaints ). Basketball's pie grows at a very satisfactory pace to all levels.
New countries, progressively bigger budgets, sponsors, fans' attendance, prove day by day that this sport is coming closer and closer to the NBA.
Factor 2. Traditional powers in the Mediterranean, look more eager than ever.
Factor 3. ..The Turks are seriously back.
Factor 4. Italian teams don't look to appreciate their respected past. It seems, football has absorbed that much our " fratteli ", that oddly ( cause their national championship is very competitive ), they don't pay a great importance to Euroleague. Pity...
Factor 5. More than ever, good coaching will play a critical role. Key word : " Rotation " is mandatory because of the long and exhausting season.
Time now to start scanning the two groups. In the first we meet 1) Olympiacos P. 2 ) Fener Ulker 3 ) Barcelona 4) Effes Anadolu 5 )Malaga 6 ) Laboral Cutxa 7 ) Armani Milan and 8 ) Panathinaikos.
In the second, 1 ) Real Madrid. 2 ) Galatasaray. 3 ) CSKA Moscow. 4 ) Locomotiv Cuban. 5 ) Partizan Belgrade. 6) Bayern Munich. 7 ) Zalgiris Caunas, and 8 ) Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Before every prediction it should be wiser to be patient and see if the addition and transfers, coming mostly from the disqualified clubs of the preliminary stage, will play a significant role to the teams' roster.
And of course to what degree. Let's proceed now to the ...chase !
GROUP A : Absolute favourites, Olympiakos. Absolute second, Barcelona. Fight till the end between Panathinaikos, Fener and Malaga for the remaining two seats in the sun... Those happy two will go to the playoffs, with a disadvantage.
GROUP B : 50 % fight between CSKA and Real M, for the 1st and second ranking. Maccabi T.Aviv looks to have the upper hand for 3d, and Partizan probably 4th.
...If now you are anxious to have the blogger's forecasts for the playoffs, you give me a great satisfaction and I will try ...my best !
PLEASE , take your seats and...fasten your belts : All games are " best of five ". First mentioned teams, have the " advantage ".
========= Olympiakos Pireaus ( 1st ) versus Partizan Belgrade ( 4th ). ===========
========= Barcelona ( 2d ) versus Maccabi Tel Aviv ( 3d ). =============
========== CSKA ( 1st ) versus Panathinaikos ( 4th ). =============
========== Real Madrid ( 2d ) versus Fener Ulker ( 3d ) ===============
...... Want more ? Not this time I'm afraid. Let's wait for April !
