Partizan mt:s Belgrade play host to EA7-Emporio Armani Milan in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague with both teams needing the win to qualify for the Top 16.
Nothing less than survival is at stake as Partizan mt:s Belgrade hosts EA7-Emporio Armani Milan on Thursday in the last Game of the Week of the regular season.
One last Top 16 berth is available in Group C, and this game will decide which of these two teams gets it. Partizan has a 4-5 record and beat Milan by 65-69 on the road in their first game. Milan are 3-6.
As such, Milan must win by 4 points to tie Partizan for fourth place and claim the Top 16 spot. A victory or a loss by up to 3 points will be enough for Partizan to advance. Partizan's streak of making the Top 16 for five consecutive years is at stake. Milan is trying to get back for the first time since 2008-09, after being left at the doorstep last season. per minute.
Milan won without its two top scorers, small forward Malik Hairston and centre Ioannis Bourousis, in a domestic game over the weekend. Bourousis had flu symptoms and Hairston was scheduled to rest because of an Achilles tendon problem. Both are expected to travel and play against Partizan.
Perimeter threat Danilo Andusic did not play in Partizan's domestic league game, but it is not known if he'll be available against Milan.
The dynamics of this do-or-die showdown could go either way. Partizan have arguably the biggest home-court advantage in the sport due to a crowd that makes enough noise to ruin the concentration of opponents.
Milan have the added incentive of revenge, after seeing Partizan steal their previous meeting in Italy with a spectacular comeback. The starting point guards, Acie Law for the hosts and Omar Cook for Milan, will have a lot to say in this game in terms of pacing and including team-mates.
Cook has the edge for experience and passing ability, Law for creating points. Toughness in the paint may be the next key. Milan boasts more experienced winners in Bourousis and three-time Euroleague champ Antonis Fotsis, but Partizan will counter with multi-talented Milan Macvan and bangers like Ratko Katic and Miroslav Raduljica.
Young bucks Leon Radosevic and Nicolo Melli boosted Milan to its first season-saving win last week, so watch them and veteran big man Mason Rocca on Thursday, because Partizan is not nearly as deep in the frontcourt.
On the perimeter, two-time Euroleague champ Drew Nicholas, super talent Malik Hairston and versatile Stefano Mancinelli will have to assert their experience over Partizan starters Dragan Milosavljevic and Vladimir Lucic. If they don't, however, the young players on Partizan grow in confidence and stature with each passing minute in close home games.
Coming off the bench, Partizan has true leaders in Dusan Kecman and Petar Bozic, who have guided their team to victory through games every bit as decisive, and more, than this one.
Expect the do-or-die pressure and a Final Four-like atmosphere in Pionir Arena to lift this game to dramatic heights rarely seen in pro basketball in December.
