25/26 European basketball discussion: Euroleague/BBL/ACB/LegaA/LNB/TBL..

[Joca97]

I’m surprised that nobody even mentioned how zvezda embarrassed themselves in the Serbian playoffs against Spartak Subotica.
First then lost at Subotica where the hosts were an 11 point underdog and then they even lost at home by 12 points as an 19 point favorite!! Wtf is wrong with this team?
Guess they really have some changes if they want to be competitive in the Euroleague next season! Otherwise they will be the new ALBA Berlin. 

In Serbia no body cares about this home league but Crvena Zvezda lost pretty heavily in both rounds and got eliminated. Partizan on the other hand is currently also struggling but 7 of their main guys went on vacation already and are playing with youngsters now. So no one cares about this tournament at all

[AHOYBRAUSE]

I’m surprised that nobody even mentioned how zvezda embarrassed themselves in the Serbian playoffs against Spartak Subotica.
First then lost at Subotica where the hosts were an 11 point underdog and then they even lost at home by 12 points as an 19 point favorite!! Wtf is wrong with this team?
Guess they really have some changes if they want to be competitive in the Euroleague next season! Otherwise they will be the new ALBA Berlin. 

In Serbia no body cares about this home league but Crvena Zvezda lost pretty heavily in both rounds and got eliminated. Partizan on the other hand is currently also struggling but 7 of their main guys went on vacation already and are playing with youngsters now. So no one cares about this tournament at all

Nobody cares is absolute nonsense. They still had plenty of good players on the roster, Euroleague players. If they wouldn't care at all they would let the youth team play and Vegas wouldn't make them a HUGE favorite. Also, they didn't win anything this season, so winning this one could have given them at least one title. Last but not least, they would never miss out on a chance to snatch another title from Partizan. So yeah, not caring really doesn't make sense here.

[yenerbatmaz]

I’m surprised that nobody even mentioned how zvezda embarrassed themselves in the Serbian playoffs against Spartak Subotica.
First then lost at Subotica where the hosts were an 11 point underdog and then they even lost at home by 12 points as an 19 point favorite!! Wtf is wrong with this team?
Guess they really have some changes if they want to be competitive in the Euroleague next season! Otherwise they will be the new ALBA Berlin. 

In Serbia no body cares about this home league but Crvena Zvezda lost pretty heavily in both rounds and got eliminated. Partizan on the other hand is currently also struggling but 7 of their main guys went on vacation already and are playing with youngsters now. So no one cares about this tournament at all

This is the biggest problem of team sports. If the targeted success does not come, the Serbian league, which was won many times before, may not be very important.
I think Zvezda experienced this situation. It is not easy for basketball players to concentrate.
If the teams do not care much, the Serbian Basketball Federation needs to find a solution to this situation.

[condoras]

Well, it's final. These are the teams that will be competing for the EuroLeague trophy next season.

They still had plenty of good players on the roster, Euroleague players.

And it seems that they don't stop and take their chances to sign big available names. I just read that they made their offer to Vasilije Micić (~10 mil for a 3-year deal) and joined the race for his signature. However, all the interesting teams will have to wait Suns' decision.

[ajanwalker]

The EuroLeague has announced that the third place match in the Final Four will be removed as of the 2025-26 season.

I think it was a wise decision. It was a match with no purpose or purpose. It was just a match effect for bettors, that's all.
While even the second place teams are not remembered, no one remembers or cares about the third place team.

[Joca97]

I’m surprised that nobody even mentioned how zvezda embarrassed themselves in the Serbian playoffs against Spartak Subotica.
First then lost at Subotica where the hosts were an 11 point underdog and then they even lost at home by 12 points as an 19 point favorite!! Wtf is wrong with this team?
Guess they really have some changes if they want to be competitive in the Euroleague next season! Otherwise they will be the new ALBA Berlin. 

In Serbia no body cares about this home league but Crvena Zvezda lost pretty heavily in both rounds and got eliminated. Partizan on the other hand is currently also struggling but 7 of their main guys went on vacation already and are playing with youngsters now. So no one cares about this tournament at all

This is the biggest problem of team sports. If the targeted success does not come, the Serbian league, which was won many times before, may not be very important.
I think Zvezda experienced this situation. It is not easy for basketball players to concentrate.
If the teams do not care much, the Serbian Basketball Federation needs to find a solution to this situation.

You already have the ABA league that has 6-7 countries in it and that is a good goal after the euroleague but when you have the serbian league after that aswell its just players getting tired and dont care. Partizan sent 7 players to rest and now 3 more from that roster are injured so now you need to play only with youngsters tonight against FMP

[LTU_btc]

Zalgiris make series 2:2 with Francisco buzzer-beater and series will end with 5th game in Kaunas on Saturday. At least I won't have to buy new TV - somehow I resisted from throwing to it after that shot:
https://x.com/BasketNews_com/status/1935777111425663199
Zalgiris returned twice from being down by 16 and 17. And I'm afraid that winning game in such way can be big mental boost for them.
In Turkey Fenerbahche got 2nd win, but this time Besiktas gave good fight. But Fener still controlled the game.

The EuroLeague has announced that the third place match in the Final Four will be removed as of the 2025-26 season.

I think it was a wise decision. It was a match with no purpose or purpose. It was just a match effect for bettors, that's all.
While even the second place teams are not remembered, no one remembers or cares about the third place team.

Finally! Better later than never. Though, I don't agree that nobody remembers 2nd placed team. I remember most of Euroleague finals, especially when there was some iconic games. Printezis buzzer-beater against CSKA is probably first what come to my head, how losers of game choked there.

[condoras]

In Turkey Fenerbahche got 2nd win, but this time Besiktas gave good fight. But Fener still controlled the game.

Fener goes for a historic treble for them and Besiktas will have to do more than give a good fight. I doubt that they can bring the series to a tie, I doubt that they can even get a win...

The EuroLeague has announced that the third place match in the Final Four will be removed as of the 2025-26 season.

It was something that needed to be done. Nobody cares for the "small final", not even the teams. However, they will need to fix the prize distribution as well, since now we will not know who ends up 3rd and 4th.

Finally! Better later than never. Though, I don't agree that nobody remembers 2nd placed team. I remember most of Euroleague finals, especially when there was some iconic games. Printezis buzzer-beater against CSKA is probably first what come to my head, how losers of game choked there.

I can also remember Llull's shot that ends Olympiakos as well...

[xzone]

The EuroLeague has announced that the third place match in the Final Four will be removed as of the 2025-26 season.

I think it was a wise decision. It was a match with no purpose or purpose. It was just a match effect for bettors, that's all.
While even the second place teams are not remembered, no one remembers or cares about the third place team.

I absolutely agree, the 3rd place team doesn't matter at all. Yes, it's a good evening for us as spectators, we enjoy it if our favorite teams play and the quality of basketball is quite high, but does it contribute to the tournament?
In football, unless it's an organization like the world cup or the olympics, the 3rd place team doesn't matter at all. In the Euroleague, you're either the champion or you lose, even the 2nd place team doesn't matter much

[LTU_btc]

It already looked that Paris win tonight is inevitable, they controlled the game, but then after halftime we saw different face of Monaco. They won 3rd quarter 30:15 and took a lead. It was close game until last seconds, but Monaco managed to keep their lead until the end and series continues.
Real starts series with a win at home. Valencia were leading big part of game, but in 4th  Real simply blew away Valencia  A bit sad, Valencia win in Madrid would make series much more interesting.

Fener goes for a historic treble for them and Besiktas will have to do more than give a good fight. I doubt that they can bring the series to a tie, I doubt that they can even get a win...

You're right, treble would make their season absolutely perfect. I don't believe that Besiktas is capable to give something more than good fight. Season probably will end tomorrow.

[Joca97]

Zalgiris make series 2:2 with Francisco buzzer-beater and series will end with 5th game in Kaunas on Saturday. At least I won't have to buy new TV - somehow I resisted from throwing to it after that shot:
https://x.com/BasketNews_com/status/1935777111425663199
Zalgiris returned twice from being down by 16 and 17. And I'm afraid that winning game in such way can be big mental boost for them.
In Turkey Fenerbahche got 2nd win, but this time Besiktas gave good fight. But Fener still controlled the game.

The EuroLeague has announced that the third place match in the Final Four will be removed as of the 2025-26 season.

I think it was a wise decision. It was a match with no purpose or purpose. It was just a match effect for bettors, that's all.
While even the second place teams are not remembered, no one remembers or cares about the third place team.

Finally! Better later than never. Though, I don't agree that nobody remembers 2nd placed team. I remember most of Euroleague finals, especially when there was some iconic games. Printezis buzzer-beater against CSKA is probably first what come to my head, how losers of game choked there.

What a game !! This series has given us everything and with this three Francisco gaved Zalgiris a chance at the title. Still anything can happen and i dont know who will win. Its really insane that he hitted that three in last second and i couldnt believe that Rytas couldnt hold out for just one more attack.

[ajanwalker]

Fenerbahçe played a disastrous first quarter. They were able to score 9 points in total in the first quarter.

They came to life a little in the second quarter but it was not enough.
Beşiktaş is playing much better. Especially Yiğit Arslan caught fire, he tried 4 three-pointers and hit all of them.
The first half ended 50-31. The difference was 19 points. The game may turn from here but I feel like Fenerbahçe cannot make this comeback today.
It was surprising to me that Fenerbahçe players, who are made up of top-level basketball players, were so affected by the fans that their hands were shaking.

[LTU_btc]

Zalgiris wins series in Game 5 and this one of the most painful defeats since I started watching basketball. Maybe not even today, but how we wasted chance in Game 4. Moments when Sargiunas missed 2nd free throw and we let Francisco to score buzzer beater will bestuck in my head forever.
During whole series or 210 minutes of basketball, Zalgiris were leading just 33 minutes. In every game of series we had double digit lead and in every game Zalgiris managed to return. I have no words.

Fenerbahçe played a disastrous first quarter. They were able to score 9 points in total in the first quarter.

They came to life a little in the second quarter but it was not enough.
Beşiktaş is playing much better. Especially Yiğit Arslan caught fire, he tried 4 three-pointers and hit all of them.
The first half ended 50-31. The difference was 19 points. The game may turn from here but I feel like Fenerbahçe cannot make this comeback today.
It was surprising to me that Fenerbahçe players, who are made up of top-level basketball players, were so affected by the fans that their hands were shaking.

Damn, what happened to Fenerbahche? I was confident that they will close series today. Started watching just from 3rd quarter when difference was already huge.

[CLS63]

The EuroLeague has announced that the third place match in the Final Four will be removed as of the 2025-26 season.

I think it was a wise decision. It was a match with no purpose or purpose. It was just a match effect for bettors, that's all.
While even the second place teams are not remembered, no one remembers or cares about the third place team.

That is a great call by the Euroleague management to be honest. Because there was no point to organize a 3rd-place match. How many viewers have those matches had so far in the first place?

However it would be harsh to say that 2nd placed teams aren't remembered. The 2nd finishers in competitive finals are always remembered. But when it comes to the 3rd placed ones I would agree with you fully.

[condoras]

Damn, what happened to Fenerbahche? I was confident that they will close series today. Started watching just from 3rd quarter when difference was already huge.

I guess that they didn't expect that Besiktas would play at their maximum, or they just don't feel any pressure to lose a game and end the series on their court. In any case, Besiktas will need a lot more because Fener won't play like that in the remaining matches. I'm more than sure that Saras will be mad after that performance.

[AHOYBRAUSE]

Damn, what happened to Fenerbahche? I was confident that they will close series today. Started watching just from 3rd quarter when difference was already huge.

I guess that they didn't expect that Besiktas would play at their maximum, or they just don't feel any pressure to lose a game and end the series on their court. In any case, Besiktas will need a lot more because Fener won't play like that in the remaining matches. I'm more than sure that Saras will be mad after that performance.

Great effort, really. Besiktas took the little chance they had and showed Fener who is the boss.

Actually I was more excited about game 3 in Germany between Bayern Munich and Ulm. Disclaimer, I hate Bayern. And yeah, Ulm won this game in Munich and now only need 1 more win. Little funny side story, it's gonna be tough for Ulm now because they have 2 big talents that also will be in the NBA draft. The problem now is, game 4 and 5 are basically right around the draft so these guys have to make a decision, go to NY or play the finals. Not sure if it's decided yet but obviously that's a tough decision and if they go it will be even more tough for the team.
They tried to move the dates but the league unfortunately said no, so there is that.

[xzone]

Beşiktaş started the game incredibly well, I don't think anyone thought they would play so well. They had a very good win in an incredible atmosphere, one of the best performances of Beşiktaş so far.
I didn't think Fenerbahçe would have such a hard time in the series. After all, we have a Euroleague champion team and Beşiktaş is a team that fights but doesn't have the best player skills.

If Beşiktaş becomes champion in this series Ali Koç will get a lot of backlash. A failed season in both football and basketball is unacceptable for Fenerbahçe fans

[AHOYBRAUSE]

Beşiktaş started the game incredibly well, I don't think anyone thought they would play so well. They had a very good win in an incredible atmosphere, one of the best performances of Beşiktaş so far.
I didn't think Fenerbahçe would have such a hard time in the series. After all, we have a Euroleague champion team and Beşiktaş is a team that fights but doesn't have the best player skills.

If Beşiktaş becomes champion in this series Ali Koç will get a lot of backlash. A failed season in both football and basketball is unacceptable for Fenerbahçe fans

Dude, Besiktas was only a 4 point underdog, it wasn't that big of an upset, honestly. They had like a 37% win chance in this one, so enough people making odds and whatever believed they can pull this off. 

Thos most important now is to not rest and win the 2nd home game as well to extend the series to a deciding game 5. I am sure Fener will watch a lot of game tape and make adjustments, they are THE team in Europe this season having won the Euroleague and so on. I doubt they want to go down to their city rival and arch nemesis. 

[LGD2Business]

Beşiktaş won the home match as expected and the series is now 2-1. Mathews and Yiğit were the stars of the game, while Plavsic contributed well from the bench. They played with a great three-point percentage of 14/29. They wiped Fenerbahçe off the court. I don't expect the 4th game to be so different but Beşiktaş will win again and equalize the series. We can clearly see the home court advantage in these games. Despite the significant budget difference, the players work wonders under the great direction of Dušan Alimpijević.

[LTU_btc]

We wil have Game 5 in France. Monaco wins another do or  die game. After being down 0:2 I already had zero expectations from them. Today it wasn't most beautiful game to watch, lot of fouls and talks with referees and only some small details decided winner.
Valencia, c'mon... How to lose game that you fully controlled. They can blame only themselves. And things I never will understand - how you can make such poor prepared attack after timeout. I'm speaking about last Valencia attack in 4th quarter.