Italy – Basket Serie A, Round 10
Pistoia-Napoli 02/12/23, CET 7:30
59 points from the renowned duo Willis-Moore, and Pistoia achieves a remarkable feat, securing its first historic victory at the Forum against Milan. A golden moment for Coach Brienza's team with 4 wins in the last 5 games, establishing themselves as a revelation similar to Cremona. On the other hand, Napoli shines in the top group with a record of 7 wins and 2 losses, maintaining a green light in the last 4 games. Napoli relies on a deeper bench and the Zubcic factor under the basket. The home team depends on consistency throughout the 40 minutes and the flair of their shooters. If Pistoia decides not to let up, a tense match is anticipated, potentially point-for-point, with defenses prevailing over offenses.
Reggiana-Pesaro 02/12/23, CET 8:30
Reggio Emilia needs to put a bad stop in Venice, where they collapsed by 20 points, behind them. However, at home (3 wins, 1 loss), they must bounce back immediately, especially in the playoff perspective. They will require more contribution from the team as a whole, in addition to the solo brilliance of Langston Galloway. Pesaro, on the other hand, showed promise against Treviso, hitting 50% from beyond the arc. Scott Bamforth is the key player for VL. However, Pesaro's performance remains inconsistent, alternating wins and losses for the last 7 matches. Trust in Reggiana and the home court advantage. A home victory by 5-10 points is likely, with a medium to high score.
Sassari-Olimpia Milano 03/12/23, CET 12:00
Dinamo Sassari (record 3-6) managed to untangle the Scafati knot for their second consecutive home victory, signaling a slight recovery. The team defends better than it attacks, and Stephane Gombauld has emerged as a valuable asset in both phases. In self-analysis, Milano struggled away against Pistoia and Zalgiris in a short span. While they face challenges in EuroLeague, their performance in the championship is slightly better (5 wins, 4 losses). It's time for Messina's richly assembled roster to assert itself. The preamble suggests a scrappy, low-scoring match, complicated for the visitors, who, in the end, should secure the win. Otherwise, it might become a psychological drama.
Scafati-Brescia 03/12/23, CET 17:00
In Campania, the first and fourth-best offenses in the league face off. Scafati (record 4-5) comes from two close defeats - against Sassari and Varese. However, they are a healthy team and have always put up a fight at home. Brescia, on the other hand, thrashed Varese (116-73) in the last round, joining the group of league leaders with 7 wins and 2 losses. Pinkins, Gentile, and Logan are the X factors for Scafati. On paper, the visitors have more, especially in rebounding with Bilan and Cournooh. However, physical energy will be crucial. Prepare for anything; the only confident scenario is seeing a total of over 170 points.
Treviso-Brindisi 03/12/23, CET 17:30
Final call for Coach Vitucci on Treviso's bench, the only team still without a win in the championship. The expected improvement didn't materialize in the last away game against Pesaro, although the scoring impact of Osvaldas Olisevicius is promising. There are few options: beat Brindisi, where Vitucci coached until this summer, in the direct clash, or changes will be necessary. Brindisi, despite a slightly better record (1 win, 8 losses), is buoyed by a resounding victory against Virtus Bologna. Jordan Bayehe led them with a double-double (25 points + 10 rebounds) and aims to repeat. Expect an evenly matched, medium-to-low-scoring game with an uncertain outcome. The desperation factor might propel Treviso.
Trento-Venezia 03/12/23, CET 18:15
The home team comes from three closely contested games - two overtime losses and a 2-point win in Eurocup against Thessaloniki. Even during the first physical dip of the season, Aquila (record 6-3) proves to be a solid and battling team, especially with the added offensive contribution of Kamar Baldwin compared to previous seasons. Venezia, having recovered from injuries, is back on track in both Serie A and Europe. The dynamism of Tucker is well known, the play-pivot axis of Spissu-Tessitori is excellent, and the growth of young Casarin is noteworthy. Venezia is not at the top of the table by chance. Prepare for a fiery atmosphere, typical when these two teams, still fresh from playoff rivalry, take the court. A total score around 160, with a gap of over 10 points - either way - would be a surprise.
Varese-Cremona 03/12/23, CET 19:00
Agreed, the identity is offensive-oriented, but Varese also needs to learn to defend. Conceding 93 points per game is too much, and the standings (record 3-6) reflect that. Cremona, the second-best attack in the league, might take advantage, although they have lost 4 out of 5 away games. The focus will be on the duel between Olivier Hanlan and Trevor Lacey. Both teams are coming off a loss, and a Varese victory would bring them level in the standings. The home crowd pushes for the third consecutive joy at PalaOldrini. Expect another game with over 160 total points when the red and white step onto the court, with a slight inclination towards their victory.
Virtus Bologna-Tortona 03/12/23, CET 20:00
Following the debacle in Brindisi, Virtus Bologna (7 wins, 2 losses) suffered a more acceptable but painful defeat in Munich - a black week for them. Coach Banchi's team needs to bounce back in the championship. Despite an outstanding Marco Belinelli and the contribution of Shengelia, others behind the chalkboard have yet to make a mark this season. In the same period, Tortona smiled twice in overtime - against Trento and Tofas - securing the fourth consecutive victory in Serie A and the Champions League. Ramondino's team is showing resilience, and keep an eye on Kyle