Heidelberg vs Alba Berlin: Analysis and Prediction – Heidelberg will host Alba Berlin in the Bundesliga opening round.
Heidelberg vs Alba Berlin Odds
Heidelberg vs Alba Berlin (1/2): 3.06 / 1.38
Asian Handicap (+6.5 / -6.5): 1.92 / 1.86
Total Over/Under (170.5): 1.88 / 1.88
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
Heidelberg Team News
Heidelberg continued their planned path of ascension last season. They finished in 12th place in the Bundesliga, and now they will aim to be a playoff contender. Certain changes in the roster have been made, but the overall quality should not be lesser than last year.
The biggest blow for Heidelberg was the departure of Eric Washington to Obradoiro. He was the top scorer and someone the team heavily relied on in offense. Coach Joonas Iisalo mostly sought new players in Scandinavia. “Under the radar” signings include Mike McGuirl and Jeffrey Carroll, while Isaiah Whaley will be responsible for controlling the paint. The retention of Vincent Kesteloot is good news, as the Belgian could play one of the most crucial roles in the upcoming season. It’s worth mentioning that Paul Zipser, a former Bayern player, returned to the club after 11 years.
Historically, Heidelberg is one of the most successful German clubs. They have won the title nine times, but the last time was in 1977. Returning to the top won’t be easy, but the progress since entering the Bundesliga is more than evident.
Alba Berlin Team News
Alba Berlin had an exceptionally poor performance on all fronts last season. In the EuroLeague, they were one of the weakest teams alongside Asvel, and they also underperformed in domestic competitions. They were eliminated by Ulm in the quarterfinals of the Bundesliga, and Bayern defeated them in the German Cup semifinals.
During the summer, Alba Berlin underwent significant roster changes. Almost all key players (Jaleen Smith, Luke Sikma, Maodo Lo) departed, and some of the new names include Sterling Brown, Justin Bean and Matteo Spagnolo. Gabriele Procida is likely to take another step in his career, while additional progress is expected from Yanni Wetzell and Louis Olinde. Alba aims to reclaim the German championship, but it will take a lot of hard work to achieve that.
It will certainly take some time for coach Israel Gonzalez to shape his team the way he wants. Many changes have been made, and the preseason results are not promising. We’ll get a lot of answers regarding Alba Berlin capabilities this Thursday evening.
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Heildelberg vs Alba Berlin H2H
Alba Berlin emerged as the winner in all four encounters against Heidelberg over the past two seasons.
Absences and Injuries
Tim Coleman is questionable, while all other players are available for Heidelberg. Louis Olinde and Yanni Wetzell have missed several recent friendly games due to injury, and it’s unknown whether they will be in Alba’s roster.
Heidelberg vs Alba Berlin Prediction
Alba Berlin had a poor preseason and have been without Wetzell and Olinde in their recent games. It doesn’t seem like the new players can effectively replace Sikma, Lo and Smith. Heidelberg did well during the summer and doesn’t appear to be weaker than before. They might not be ready yet to overcome a formidable opponent like Alba, but they can certainly stay close until the very end.
Tip-off Time: Thursday, 28.09.2023, 20:00 CET
Prediction: Heidelberg +8
Odds: 1.73
Sportsbook: 22Bet
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