Brno - Opava
Czech Republic - NBL, Playoffs, Quarterfinal
Brno basketball players simply don't have any room for mistakes and another stumble. Another defeat against Opava, on their own court, would mean the end of the season for them, already in the fifth quarterfinals match of the Czech NBL league.
Unexpectedly, the most trophy-winning club in the Czech Republic, which has been waiting for a title for almost three decades - after excellent games and a second place before the playoffs, began to stumble in the quarterfinals. The favoritse have obviously struggled with the pressure of expectations so far, while Opava has the experience of difficult playoff matches. In the previous four editions of the national championship, Opava reached the finals three times, and no one can say that they don't deserve 3:1 lead in the playoff series.
However, it is hard to believe that Brno can lose against this opponent for the third time in a row as a host. A pledge for the self-confidence of the favorites is the triumph away from home 107:73 in the third match of the quarterfinals, played on April 27. Brno players lost both matches at home against Opava in the playoffs in thrilling last minutes (94:92, then 86:84). The impression of the basketball public in the Czech Republic is that the Brno team lacked luck in the opening two games of the quarter-final series. Now, in front of their fans, they have a chance to completely turn the tide.
However, if the winner of this 5th game is definitely not certain - a match with a large number of points is. In the previous four games, these teams scored an average of 180.6 points. Overall, since March 8, in 15 matches in which the Brno team has played in all competitions, at least one team has scored 81 points. The hosts' form for the quarter-final fifth leg is questionable (six defeats in their last ten games in all competitions) – but their attacking potential is not. The fact that the rivals usually have the opportunity to speed up the game and make a large number of attacks during the match against the Brno team is also not in doubt.
On the other hand, Opava has timed its form very well, in the last eight matches in all competitions they have only two defeats. In their last ten games, only once happened that at least one team didn't score at least 92 points.
The young Brno squad (only 24 years old on average) during this season had a better shot realization (56 percent for two and 33 for three points), and constantly struggles with the realization of free throws (67.2 percent during the season). In this playoff series, it shows that the experience of the Opava team (27 years on average) really means a lot.
Brno has more foreigners in the team (as many as six), but the key player is local playmaker Viktor Polpan. In addition to 10.8 points per match, he is first in assists (six on average), rebounds (6.8 per match) and steals per game (1.7) in the team. On the other hand, the Opava team is most dependent on the performance of power forward Dontay Elijah Bassett, who averages 17 points and 7.9 rebounds.
Interestingly, out of their last ten games since May 7 last year against this rival, Opava won as many as eight. Now Brno is under great pressure to improve that score in a new match of exceptional attacking basketball - and to show, that the excellent performance in the regular season was not a coincidence.