Second day of the week in the Euroleague with 3 teams which continue to share the lead, Real, Monaco and Barça. Precisely, it is the Catalans who will interest us today since they will receive the Turks of Anadolu, double European champion in title, in the clash of the evening. Presentation of the 19th day Euroleague 2022/2023.
Euroleague 2022/2023: the poster for the 19th day
FC Barcelona – Anadolu Efes Istanbul (Friday at 8:30 p.m.)
It is the shock of this 19th day of Euroleague between the FC Barcelona, finalists and 2021 and the Final Four last season, which received the double champion d’Europe in title, theAnadolu Efes Istanbul. The Catalans are currently joint leaders of the competition while the Istanbulites are still struggling to find consistency while awaiting the return of their star player, Shane Larkinencore injured.
After playing the first 3 months of competition without the MVP of the 2021/2022 regular season, FC Barcelona saw the return in December of Nikola Mirotic. But it still takes time for the Spaniard to adapt to the new Catalan collective which had several notable arrivals during the summer (T. Satoransky, J. Vesely or N.Kalinic). As proof, Barça have already conceded 3 defeats in 8 games since their return and must still work collectively. But on paper, there is no doubt that the Catalan workforce remains the most extensive on the European continent. The versatility of Tomas Satoransky will be one of the assets for this meeting. With 8.8 pts, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists, the former Bulls player will have to weigh in on the game offensively in order to tire his direct opponent in the evening, Vasilije Micic. But it’s the whole Barça collective that can make the difference. The impact of a Cory Higgins (9.2 pts) and the verticality of Jan Vesely (8.8 pts and 3.4 rebounds) will be decisive in this meeting which smells of sulfur. And on the Barcelona side, the control rebound, one of the weak points of the team, will have to be erased to bring down the double defending champion. In the first leg, the Blaugranas had given the Turks too many second chances and lost 96-86.
Among the double reigning European champions, consistency is always a bad thing. Solid at home with 6 wins in 9 games, theAnadolu Efes Istanbul is much less sovereign outside of Turkey, with only 3 wins in 9 games. Focused on outside shooting (more than 27 attempts per match), the Turkish team does not however display the same face depending on the meetings and the smell of blood is perhaps less felt after the 2 European titles won consecutively . But the talent remains incredibly present in this team. In the absence of Shane Larkininjured again after returning to the field in mid-December, Cory Higgins took over in attack. Arrived last summer in the Turkish capital, the American turns more than 19 pts this season and even allows itself to be the number 1 offensive option in front Vasilije Micic (17,9 pts). This duo is completed by the tricolor Rodrigue Beaubois (12,4 pts) who is having his best season in the Euroleague, and who is seeing theFrench team make eyes at him (again). But 9th after the first leg, and therefore currently out of the play-offs, Anadolu will have to rectify the situation during the return phase or risk not being able to defend their title during the post-season. But the panic is not yet topical among the Turks, and the previous season shows it with a regular phase which saw them finish in 6th place before the end that we know.
The player to watch: Nikola Mirotic (FC Barcelona)
MVP of the Euroleague 2021/2022, Nikola Mirotic had to watch the start of the regular season from the bench following an injury to the tendon d’achille. Back on the European courts at the beginning of December, the Spanish international was quick to find his rhythm individually with an already substantial contribution (14.5 pts and 4.1 rebounds). Admittedly, the former New Orleans Pelicans player is still far from his optimal level, but his return to the Catalan workforce will give Sarunas Jasikevicius time to build the collective in order to be ready for May 19 and 21, 2023, date of Final Four which will take place at Kaunas. Against Anadolu, Nikola Mirotic will probably be the player to watch.
The complete program of the 19th day of Euroleague
Thursday January 12
18h45 : Fenerbahce Istanbul – Bayern Munich
7:00 p.m.: Red Star Belgrade – AS Monaco
20h00 : Alba Berlin – Real Madrid
20h30 : Virtus Bologne – Olympiacos BC
Friday January 13
8:00 p.m.: Panathinaikos Athens – Maccabi Tel Aviv
20:00: LDLC Asvel – Valence Basket
20h30: Partizan Belgrade – Baskonia Vitoria
20h30 : FC Barcelone – Anadolu Efes Istanbul
20h30: Emporio Armani Milano – Zalgiris Kaunas
Euroleague ranking after 18 days
- Real Madrid 12-6
- FC Barcelona 12-6
- AS Monaco 12-6
- Olympiakos BC 11-7
- Fenerbahce 11-7
- Baskonia Vitoria 11-7
- Zalgiris Kaunas 10-8
- Maccabi Tel-Aviv 10-8
- Anadolu Efes Istanbul 9-9
- Red Star Belgrade 9-9
- Partizan Belgrade 8-10
- Valence Basket 8-10
- Bologna power 8-10
- Bayern Munich 7-11
- Alba Berlin 6-12
- Panathinaikos Athens 6-12
- Emporio Armani Milan 6-12
- LDLC Asvel 6-12
