2024 EuroLeague Playoffs Preview: Real Madrid vs Baskonia – Only one of those team will qualify for the Final Four in Berlin.
Real Madrid is the most successful club in the history of the EuroLeague, and with 11 titles won, they certainly won’t be satisfied with just reaching the playoffs. Real Madrid also won the EuroLeague trophy last season, and their record of 27 wins and only seven losses is the best indicator of how much Chus Mateo‘s team wants to win back-to-back titles.
On the other hand, there’s Baskonia, a team in good shape but also a team that had to play two more “do-or-die” games to secure the eighth spot at the end of the season. This will be their first playoff appearance under Dusko Ivanovic since 2019. Simply reaching the playoffs can be considered a success for the Vitoria-based club, and if they replicate their success from 2016 and reach the EuroLeague Final Four, it would likely be the biggest surprise of the season.
Road to the EuroLeague playoffs
Throughout the season, Real Madrid has held the status of the most dominant team, as evidenced by their 27 victories. No one could come close to the Madrid-based club when it comes to the battle for the top spot on the table, so discussing their path to a playoff position seems ludicrous. All that needs to be highlighted is that second-placed Panathinaikos had four fewer wins than Los Blancos.
Baskonia has been playing playoff-intensity games for the last month. Although it seemed that Ivanovic’s team would secure a spot in the play-in as early as the end of March, consecutive losses to Partizan, Zalgiris and Anadolu Efes seriously complicated the situation in the standings. The Vitoria-based team had to fight for advancement in Madrid and Bologna, where they managed two great feats, thus booking at least one play-in game.
Given that Maccabi Tel Aviv convincingly defeated them at the start of the play-in in the Belgrade Arena, they had to seek a second chance in Spain against Virtus (who eliminated Anadolu Efes). The brilliant Markus Howard played an outstanding game when it was most needed, and thus Baskonia found themselves among the top eight teams in Europe.
Real Madrid vs Baskonia – H2H
Real Madrid Strenghts and Weaknesses
- Strenghts – When a team performs at the level Real Madrid has this season, it’s challenging to highlight just a few advantages, let alone spot significant weaknesses. There’s no doubt that the arrival of Facundo Campazzo has added a new dimension to an already dominant Real Madrid, making them even better since the summer. The Argentinean has averaged 11.3 points and 6.5 assists per game this season, ranking him among the top three players for Los Blancos.
Mario Hezonja is also in incredible form, averaging 14 points per game, making him perhaps the most dangerous weapon for the Madrid team heading into the playoffs. We must also mention the performance of Dzanan Musa, who is also at an impressive average of 13.9 points per game. What should please Mateo is the form of Vincent Poirier, who has essentially “stolen the spotlight” from Walter Tavares from the previous season.
With averages of 88.2 points, 36.8 rebounds, and 20.5 assists per game (PIR 106.5), these stats confirm that numbers don’t lie, and Real Madrid is the most dominant team in Europe at the moment by all measures.
Baskonia Strenghts and Weaknesses
- Strenghts – Under the guidance of head coach Dusko Ivanovic, Baskonia has managed to reclaim its distinctive playing style. The team’s key players are Markus Howard, Chima Moneke, and Codi Miller-McIntyre, who have been performing exceptionally well since the Montenegrin head coach took charge. The Vitoria-based team plays at a high-scoring pace (84.4 points per game), and much of the credit goes to Howard, who has earned the status of the team’s superstar. The American has been given the freedom to play by the head coach, showcasing an average of 19.5 points per game.
- Weaknesses – The biggest concern at the moment is the injury suffered by Chima Moneke in Belgrade. The former Monaco player has been performing exceptionally well this season, as evidenced by his average of 13.6 points and 6.6 rebounds. While his injury may not be severe, his participation in the Wizink Center remains questionable.
Real Madrid – Baskonia: Three things to watch
- Facundo Campazzo vs Codi Miller-McIntyre – this matchup could be particularly interesting because Baskonia might find their chance precisely at the point guard position, where Miller-McIntyre is physically much more dominant compared to his defender. The height difference between the two point guards is 10 centimeters, and there’s no need to emphasize too much about their physical strength.
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Markus Howard vs Dzanan Musa – Markus Howard will have the opportunity for the first time in his career to play games for Baskonia that decide whether his team will advance to the EuroLeague Final Four. Given his dominant performance throughout the season, there’s no doubt that all eyes will be on him. The best indicator that he enjoys playing at the Wizink Center is his 35-point performance in the last EuroLeague encounter between these two teams.
On the other hand, Dzanan Musa has yet to shine brightly in any of the previous games between Real Madrid and Baskonia. There’s no doubt he will be among the most motivated players at the start of the playoff series.
- Gabriel Deck vs Tadas Sedekerskis – The matchup between these two power forwards could certainly capture public attention. The Argentine has recently been the X-factor in several games, deciding them with last-second three-pointers, while the Lithuanian, on the other hand, is also known as a player who can shine from the shadows. Both are extremely mobile players for their positions, and their duels will undoubtedly be interesting to follow throughout the upcoming playoff series.
Real Madrid vs Baskonia Prediction
It’s expected that from the beginning to the end of the playoff series, we’ll see games characterized by fast-paced basketball with a high number of points. Home-court advantage, experience, and quality are definitely on Real Madrid’s side, but if any team has the potential to shine unexpectedly, it’s Baskonia. It’s well-known that the Vitoria-based team never gives up in Madrid, so this time around, the games will likely be decided in thrilling finishes.
Despite the playoffs adding a completely different dimension to the competition, it’s expected that at the end of the day, Chus Mateo’s team will justify their role as favorites and secure a spot in the Final Four. Anything other than this scenario would be considered a disaster for the Madrid team at this point. Of course, the readiness of Chima Moneke to help his team in the first game will greatly influence the situation. The impression is that if Real Madrid takes a 1-0 lead in the series, Baskonia won’t have much chance to create an upset.
Prediction: Real Madrid in three