Karhu - Helsinki Seagulls
Finland - Korsiiliga, Playoffs, Final
If the Finish Korisliiga final series has shown anything in the two matches so far, it is the fact that the Helsinki Seagulls are a much more talented team offensively than Karhu.
At home, facing a 2:0 deficit in the four-game winning streak, Karhu will play on Monday, May 8 knowing that they have to win. Coach Janne Koskimies, after a 70:54 defeat at home and an even more convincing 84:64 away defeat, demans the Karhu players to level up, especially in the attack, when it comes to the communication between the guards and the big ones.
On the other hand, Helsinki Seagulls enter the new away match with a lot of confidence - and coach Jussi Laakso does not hide it at all. First of all, his wish is for his team to repeat the top editions from the opening two matches of the final on the defensive level. He also pointed out that he expects the opponent to change something in the preparation of the defense for the duel.
However, at the moment when all the key players are ready to perform and in excellent form - it seems that the Seagulls have additional reserves, to play even better in attack than in the previous two games. This is a team that has achieved an average of 92.7 points so far during the Korisliiga season. This match on Monday is not decisive, since four wins are needed for the title - so Helsinki will play completely relieved. It is precisely in such situations that Laakso's team is the most dangerous, to shine again in the rhythm of an attractive transitional game.
It's fair to say that the Helsinki Seagulls are on their way to winning their first championship in history. Since the beginning of spring, the team has been on a streak of nine victories, and only one win wasn't by a double-digit margin. Since the end of October, the club from the capital of Finland has lost only three matches in Korisliiga - one of which was in overtime and the other in the last seconds of the match.
Karhu absolutely has the quality of individuals to at least fight for a triumph in the match against Helsinki Seagulls, and also has more experience in case of an uncertain ending. Proof of that is the triumph of the home team in Kauhajoka 86:84 in the match played on March 22 - which is also the last defeat of the Seagulls. In that game, the Helsinki team lost a significant lead in the very end.
The defense of the Helsinki Seagulls is getting better, the last time they conceded more than 90 points was on January 27 (110:91 triumph over Salon Vilpas). Karhu is now expected to dominantly pay attention to the attacking game, and the effective edition of the Seagulls should not be absent in this game.
"Bears" from Kauhojaki have won three championship titles since 2018, and at the beginning of this April they also played in the semi-finals of the FIBA Europe Cup... However, the basketball public in Finland now agrees, that Karhu cannot match the top attacking options of the Seagulls.