We have reached the final episode of the regular season in the Euroleague.
Today and tomorrow will be the last round, and next week Maccabi Tel Aviv will meet Fenerbahce for a postponed game. Their place in the playoffs has already been secured, and currently Maccabi can finish between 5th and 7th place and face the series without a home advantage against the teams from 4-2 places.
The three possible rivals are Real Madrid, Olympiacos and Milan.
They all lost in the hall, and they all defeated the Yellows at home.
When three empires stand opposite - there is no convenient option, but we will still analyze who is worth meeting, and who is better to avoid.
On paper it was good for the Yellows to avoid Real Madrid.
Need not explain too much about the strengths and resume of the Blancos.
But in light of what the luxury club has been going through lately, it is actually better for Maccabi to play against them.
The emphasis is on right now, in a situation where Real will not return to capabilities that match its potential.
Tavares vs. Milan, Photo: AP
Something bad, even very bad is happening to the Spanish team.
This is perhaps her biggest crisis in years.
The season opener did not indicate what was going to happen.
In the league it started at 1:14 and now Real is already at 7:19, lost first place and in danger of dropping to third place.
In the Euroleague the situation is no better with seven losses in the last nine rounds, and after battling for first place it could finish fourth.
But it's not just the losses.
In some games she showed awkward ability, broke negative records, and succumbed to the weaker teams in the Euroleague - Panathinaikos and Zalgiris.
She had unimaginable numbers of 47 and 51 points per game.
It is a long and ongoing crisis, and despite everything there is a caveat: the strengths, talents and abilities are still there.
Who is better for Maccabi to avoid?
Olympiacos.
After bad years the Greek club came back big with an impressive season.
Not only are they back in the playoffs they also have a home advantage.
The strengths are in team spirit, defensive toughness, connection, balance and stability.
Oiled machine.
In addition, the Greeks have the most "domestic" house among the possible rivals, they are in the best shape and have a great hunger to return to the front of the stage.
Who will Maccabi Tel Aviv meet at the crossroads ?, Photo: AP
Somewhere in the middle is Milan.
On the one hand, defense from the best in the Euroleague, experienced players and a great coach like Ettore Messina.
On the other hand, she has been experiencing a decline in fitness recently, significant deficits (Dinos Mitoglou and Luigi Datuma) and the least threatening home court.
For those who forgot, for the 2014 Final Four, which ended in a cup win, Maccabi advanced after a series against Milan without a home advantage.
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