Tenerife is currently the slowest team in the Champions League tournament, with Gran Canaria not far behind. This season, Gran Canaria is heavily focused on their defense and often has games with scores that were rarely seen before the modern era of basketball. They have the best defensive ranking in the tournament. However, it is concerning that Tenerife has a better offense and their defense may not be as strong as it seems. But considering it is the playoffs and the importance of the games is immense, it is a scary thought.
The role of the Frenchman in the Hornets team has changed and it is particularly evident recently in terms of minutes and points. In 6 consecutive games, he has scored at least double-digit points, with 4 of them being 11 or over. He maintains a consistent shooting volume and has good percentages. The Pelicans have been weak defensively against centers all season, but in the past week, both the points allowed and rebounds allowed have been tragic. Diabate is excellent at stealing the ball not only on defense, but also on offense.
Important game between two uncertain teams, tough challenge for Mallorca at home. Both teams are not in their best form right now and predicting who will win is very difficult, but I expect a lot of battle and tension here because points are crucial for both teams. Sevilla tends to collect a lot of yellow cards in the league and make a lot of mistakes. Mallorca is also a team that favors cards. The referee is favorable for overs. I think the total for Sevilla is too low considering their average of 15+ fouls per game, and this will be a game with a lot of fighting.
Important game between two teams, Mallorca at home is a tough opponent. Both teams are not in their best form right now, and it is very difficult to predict who will win. However, I expect a lot of competition and tension as both teams need points. Sevilla tends to collect yellow cards and make a lot of mistakes in the league. Mallorca is a team that is suitable for over cards. The referee is favorable towards overs. In my opinion, the total for Sevilla here is too low, considering that their average is over 15 yellow cards, and this will be a highly competitive match.
Both FUT and Astralis are pleasantly surprising so far. Both teams play similar maps, so it wouldn't be surprising if both win against their opponents. The match is for survival, there is nowhere to retreat, both are difficult to predict, and I am expecting a three-map battle.
Although yesterday NaVi tragically played on Dust2, the Mirage win was worth it. FURIA won against TheMongolz, but the game was very disappointing. The team does not resemble what it was in the previous season. YEKINDAR mentioned that there were changes in certain player positions, so we can expect Peru to return in time, but currently NaVi has a great opportunity to take Peru.
The decisive match, in which I am expecting goals. In the first game, Arsenal won 2-3 against Chelsea, so we should expect goals in this match too. Even one of these two teams can surpass the over/under line, especially since Arsenal has gone over this line in 6 out of their last 7 matches. Chelsea also plays an attacking football, as seen in their last 3 matches.
The leaders and this season's home match winners with a red card 2-0, Hearts, are once again playing against St. Mirren. The away team Hearts are playing very well, but St. Mirren is fighting to avoid relegation and has a goal difference of -14, while Hearts have a +28 difference. The strongest team in Scotland consistently plays well and wins, so even playing away, one can only expect a victory for them.
I believe a very high coefficient is given for the Paris team, which courageously can win against Germany. Yes, Bayern is playing a better playoff, but when it comes to gathering points, Paris is on the same level. Both teams have caused sensations in the previous Euroleague tour, so their form is good. However, Paris seems to be an even more attractive option to me, and with such a coefficient, I think it's worth taking a risk only with them.
No matter how well Valencia can surf the waves, but Efes are so weak that even in the Turkish league, they are unbeatable. The club, currently in last place in the Euroleague, can't do anything good even with Laso's arrival, and when solid Valencia arrives, Peru must be taken away by the Spaniards.
One of the best teams from Dubai is playing against one of the strongest teams in the league, who are even considered favorites. Dubai's 12 league team is ranked high in points, but their home results greatly increase up to 91.2 points per game and 4th place in the league based on this indicator. Olympiacos plays a points-based basketball this season and even such a lineup is often easy to beat in this team's games. Oly is the 4th league team in terms of points earned away, with an average of 88.7 points. So the Greek team played very unproductively, but now everything must be different in Dubai.
It seems illogical to give such coefficients when there is chaos going on in PAO. The situation with Nunnu is unclear, it seems that there are not only injuries, but also conflicts with Ataman. The results are poor, Aris team lost today. The owner has posted a video where he almost fights with all the players. There is tension in the team and it definitely does not contribute to such matches against such a serious opponent. Real is in optimal form.
Maccabi is one of the top teams in the Euroleague, playing at a strong pace. They rank third in pace in the Euroleague, with a good offensive rating and the second worst defensive rating. Partizan's team is a complete mess, but they still have talent to attack with. Pokusevski returned to the lineup, rookie Radanov made his debut. Perhaps Washington will be ready. In short, two of the worst defenses, but with something to offer on offense.
The total just seems too low, even though Efes is the slowest team in terms of pace in the Euroleague, their defensive rating is poor and is close to teams like Paris or ASVEL. They have good individual players and a mobile enough lineup to play a faster basketball. Valencia has an over/under of 167, which seems quite low due to their playing style. In Spain, the two teams combined for 176 points.
In this season, England's Sunderland looks simply fantastic at home. They have not suffered a single loss and have played particularly well against top teams such as City, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Aston Villa. The second-worst away team, Burnley, has conceded almost 3 goals per game and has lost 8 out of the 11 matches played. Sunderland's African players have returned, and even though Xhaka shouldn't be playing yet, their team looks like a clear choice in the match against the league newcomers, Sunderland.
Bucks leaving the East is a serious possibility, especially with such high odds. Giannis is having another incredible season and it doesn't seem like his form will decline. Ryan Rollins is becoming a great player. Kevin Porter Jr is not yet there, but he will be, and if we don't count his non-basketball related issues, he is a great player. AJ Green is a complete sniper who can make shots in every game. Myles Turner is struggling right now, but he will start making shots soon. The recipe for the Bucks is clear - Giannis is the main man and the shooters are placed around him, and with this team, it's possible to win championships.
The main contenders will most likely be Cleveland, 76ers, and Knicks, maybe even Orlando, but it's disappointing and unclear which of them will rise this season.
Outrights (NBA 2025/26 - To Reach the Playoffs - Golden State Warriors : NO) @500 4/10
The West is very competitive. In the past years, it was not clear who would rank in the top 4 - 11.
The Spurs will still be in the mix, and the Rockets look strong. It's too early to count out the Kings.
Curry is 37 years old, Butler is 36, and Draymond is 35, so the core players are getting older and could potentially face the same injuries.
Overall, my weak teams' championship looks promising this year. Despite their lack of experience in the championship, they often rise up to the Premier League. The rest of the teams don't have much chance unless these options occur:
Leicester - I believe they will bounce back, although they have struggled a bit. They still have a strong team and if they don't lose their morale after dropping down to the championship, I think they can definitely fight for promotion this season.
Middlesbrough - A good team in good form, nothing can stop them this season. I think they can definitely promote to the Premier League together with Leicester.
Coventry - Thanks to Lampard's magic, they have a shot at first place. I believe they have good chemistry and can rise to the Premier League, as long as they maintain their form.
In my opinion, these are the only options that can compete for promotion to the Premier league. The rest are either in bad form or good form, but I don't think they will last long. Leicester, on the other hand, is used to the championship and immediately bounces back to the Premier League. They have struggled with injuries in the Premier League but now I see that their players are no longer injured and in good form (sadly, some have left). But their main player, Abdul Fatawu (remember the name), can lead this team if he doesn't get injured. The team still has good players and promising talents, so I think they can continue their tradition.
First long-term bet for the new full season. Chelsea's coefficient is still over 2, which means they will finish in the Top 4, and I have no doubts about that. Last season, they finished fourth and strengthened their team impressively at the end of the season. It was clear that this young team is a force to be reckoned with, winning two trophies and beating PSG gave them a lot of confidence going forward. So yes, Chelsea will play Champions League football, but in terms of the main competition for the fourth place, I see Newcastle as the main rival and I don't think they have strengthened enough to challenge for it. As for the other teams, United and Tottenham? United have made too much progress in just one season and Tottenham have a lower level than Chelsea, plus they are also in the Champions League. Aston Villa seems destined for relegation and I don't see any other contenders. Overall, I believe Chelsea is closer to joining the top three of Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool, rather than fighting for the Top 4 spot, which I don't see them achieving in the upcoming Premier League season.