Maccabi Electra and FC Barcelona Regal lock horns in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Top 16 on Thursday in what should be a thrilling encounter.
Two classic Turkish Airlines Euroleague powerhouses will fight for first place in Top 16 Group H in Tel Aviv, Israel, where Maccabi Electra hosts FC Barcelona Regal in the Game of the Week on Thursday.
Barcelona is the best defensive team in the competition (59.9 ppg.) but Maccabi has scored more than 80 points six times in 11 Euroleague games this season.
Both teams face off for the 30th time in European club competitions. Barcelona has a 17-12 record against Maccabi and has beaten the Israeli giant in their last four match-ups. It will be a very special game for Chuck Eidson, who played for Maccabi in the last two seasons and now returns to Tel Aviv with Barcelona.
Barcelona may still be without Juan Carlos Navarro, who is about to return to action. Boni Ndong was questionable last week but played against Bennet Cantu. Other than Guy Pnini, Maccabi has a full roster available for this decisive home game.
If Navarro is still unavailable or sees limited playing time, Eidson and Pete Mickeal will play bigger roles at both wings. Eidson must use his versatility, size and ball handling against a very good scorer like Keith Langford, who has become a key player in Maccabi's rotation. Mickeal will need to bring his aggressiveness, winning mentality and all-around game against Devin Smith, in what promises to be a key match-up in this game.
Barcelona can turn to versatile forward Joe Ingles or sharp shooter Xavi Rabaseda to play against Tal Burstein. Maccabi is really deep at point guard, as it can use Mallet, former Euroleague MVP Theo Papaloukas or youngster Yogev Ohayon.
Mallet will face a former team-mate at DKV Joventut, Marcelinho Huertas, so both players know each other well. Papaloukas and Ohayon will not have it easy against Victor Sada, a prime-time defensive stopper with outstanding court vision.
Barcelona must find a way to check Sofoklis Schortsanitis, whose size and power may well be unprecedented in European club basketball. Shot-blocking ace Fran Vazquez and centre Kosta Perovic will see most playing time against him, but Boni Ndong may also get in the action against Shawn James and Richard Hendrix.
Stopping Erazem Lorbek will be a main concern for Maccabi, a job that will go to Lior Eliyahu and David Blu. If Blu can find open shots and Eliyahu can run the floor for transition baskets, Barcelona will be in trouble. Maccabi must lock down the defensive board and get Schortsanitis involved. Barcelona will look to Eidson and Lorbek to make the difference in Tel Aviv.
