Only four rounds remain until the end of the regular season in the Euroleague, and while Maccabi Tel Aviv has not yet secured its qualification for the playoffs, it may do so later this week - if it beats Virtus Bologna and Milan.
On the "Basket News" website, they tried to predict which teams would end up in the top 8, and gave the Yellows a 96% chance to qualify for the quarterfinals - perfecting what Oded Ketch's team has done so far this season, the schedule of games it has left, and the home advantage.
Will the quarter-finals be guaranteed this week?
Maccabi Tel Aviv players (photo: Danny Maron)
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"Maccabi Tel Aviv has the easiest schedule of all the teams fighting for the playoffs," it says. Let's remind: the opponents remaining for Ketch are Virtus Bologna, Milan, Zalgiris and Real Madrid. Three of these four games will be at home, where the Yellows have an excellent record this season (12 wins from 17 games). "If Maccabi wins twice, it will without a doubt guarantee a playoff," it says. "She deserves all the respect for shifting gears in the most important moments of the season.
It also has an advantage over Valencia, Anadolu Efes and Partizan, if there is a balance between the teams."
So where will Maccabi Tel Aviv finish? According to the same forecast, the most likely chance is where it is now - sixth, with 35%. The Yellows have 26% chance to overtake Fenerbahce and finish in fifth place, and those who dream of fourth place, and with home advantage in the crossover, better wake up (0.6%). The Yellows have a 26% chance of losing sixth place to Partizan Belgrade and finishing in seventh place,
According to the same forecast, Maccabi Tel Aviv will meet Barcelona, who should finish third, in the quarter-final stage of the playoffs.
Whoever gets the eighth and last ticket to the next stage is Basconia.
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The opponent in the quarter-finals?
Mirotic (Photo: GettyImages, Sonia Canada)
This is what the top 8 in the Euroleague will look like at the end of the regular season, according to this forecast
1. Olympiakos
2. Real Madrid
3. Barcelona
4. Monaco
5. Fenerbahce
6. Maccabi Tel Aviv
7. Partizan Belgrade
8. Baskonia
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basketball
Euroleague and European basketball
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Maccabi Tel Aviv in basketball
Euroleague
