Italy – Basket Serie A, Round 15

Treviso-Varese 06/01/24, CET 8:30 PM
A heated preview at the Palaverde, where Treviso and Varese face off in a crucial relegation battle. The Venetians aim to climb the standings – at least 14th place by the midway point, a challenging feat after a shocking start. However, they must recover from the bitter defeat against Pistoia in the last seconds (86-89) in the previous round. On the other side, Varese comes in rejuvenated with the Mannion factor, repeated in a decisive away victory against Reggiana (116-93) after a successful debut in Pesaro. The former Golden State player once again made an impact with 19 points and 8 assists, inspiring Olivier Hanlan's offensive prowess. It's a challenging game with an uncertain outcome. Vitucci's boys may be favored by keeping the score low, relying on tactical balance in potential close situations – reliable players in this regard are Robinson and Olisevicius. However, if Varese's offense takes charge, the visitors may run away with the game.

Tortona-Scafati 07/01/24, CET 4:00 PM
A defensive lapse in the third quarter cost Walter De Raffaele a smile in his debut on Tortona's bench, as their comeback against Napoli stopped at -1. Positive signs were visible, with Baldasso and Ross immediately involved in the coach's perimeter game. However, Tortona faces a challenging situation with a five-game losing streak, stuck in unpredictable areas of the standings. Scafati (7-7) leads by two victories and will rightfully play for a spot in the Final Eight on Sunday. The Campanians play with a light heart, coming off three consecutive wins – the latest, significant, against Trento – and boast Alessandro Gentile, freshly named in the LBA's best lineup for December. Despite the technical gap on paper, the pressure for results adds an extra factor for Weems and his teammates. A home win is expected in a potentially balanced match, with around 160 total points.

Pesaro-Sassari 07/01/24, CET 4:30 PM
A crucial moment in Pesaro's season: after a collapse against Bologna (83-66, the fourth loss in the last 5 games), Buscaglia's coaching position is at risk. Additionally, Scott Bamforth's serious injury, the team's technical leader, forces the club to intervene in the transfer market. In the meantime, Pesaro deals with evident roster gaps. The evergreen leadership of Andrea Cinciarini, who arrived a month ago from Zaragoza, will be crucial. Sassari is also on edge, tied in the standings (5-9), but reacted well after a disappointing home loss against Venice. The clear win against Cholet (72-93), with 6 players in double digits, makes the Champions League play-in more manageable. Sassari now seeks an away victory in the league – the first in a challenging season. Trust in Dinamo's victory due to an overall gap and individual mismatches – Brandon Jefferson's creativity poses a challenge for Pesaro's defense.

Trento-Olimpia Milano 07/01/24, CET 5:00 PM
A brief reflection for Trento, as the setback against Scafati (75-62) was too harsh compared to their high-season standards (9-5 in Serie A). The team appeared tired, considering their efforts in the Eurocup, where Grazulis and his teammates are chasing a playoff spot. Already secure, the Final Eight of the Italian Cup: this puts pressure on Milan to secure a victory in a challenging arena where only Virtus has prevailed so far. Milan (8-6) can't afford a loss in Trentino, risking lower standing and exclusion from the Cup. Unacceptable for a roster like Olimpia's. The new year started with a close loss in Athens, where the Italian block shone: Bortolani, Tonut, especially a in-form Diego Flaccadori. He returns to Trento as a former player. Expect a tough away victory, with defenses better than offenses, under 160 total points.

Brindisi-Brescia 07/01/23, CET 5:30 PM
Puglia is in free fall, with the third consecutive loss in Cremona (75-58) and the 12th in the league. A disheartened team with few sparks of pride. The club's hopes now rest on the recent addition of Frank Bartley, the top scorer in the last Serie A season with Trieste. Will it be enough to shake things up? On the other side, the powerhouse Brescia comes in after a commanding victory (72-64) against Olimpia Milano. De La Valle and his teammates play cohesively, are in good physical shape, and have left little for the less favored opponents this season. It's hard to believe the outcome will be different at the PalaPentassuglia: all signs point to a clear away victory, possibly with a 10-point margin. But watch out for the Bartley factor.

Pistoia-Cremona 07/01/23, CET 6:15 PM
What was initially considered a relegation battle turns out to be a big match between two impressive newcomers tied in the standings (7-7). The winner, barring tiebreak complications, will qualify for the Final Eight, and both teams deserve it. Pistoia relies on the explosive duo Willis-Moore, rebounding from two consecutive losses by winning at Palaverde. In the last two months (7 wins in the last 10), they've shown improvement. Cremona, on the other hand, is more solid defensively, capable of managing lead situations, and has a deeper bench. Prepare for an open game with various possible outcomes, hovering around 160 total points.

Reggiana-Virtus Bologna 07/01/23, CET 7:00 PM
The harsh defeat in Varese (116-93) has a bitter taste for Reggio Emilia, but they secured a spot in the Italian Cup thanks to results on other courts. The team (2 losses in the last 3) seems to be catching its breath: the 7/26 overall shooting by the Hervey-Galloway duo in the last game raises concerns. Sunday brings a challenge against Virtus, aiming to stay close to the leading duo of Venice-Brescia. Virtus is in good form, continuing to impress in the EuroLeague, and it's time to raise the bar in Serie A (improving the 4-3 away record). Possible protagonist? In the last week, Toko Shengelia averaged 20 points per game. Expect an away win by 10 or more points.

Venezia-Napoli 07/01/23, CET 8:00 PM
On the eve of the midway point, Reyer (11-3) unexpectedly leads the league. It would be a shame to lose the top spot and home unbeaten streak at the last curve. The orogranata season so far has two faces, magnificent in the league and lacking in Eurocup. However, during weekends, Spahija's team shows no signs of weakening: a notable recent show of strength in Sassari (62-73), where solid defense alternated with excellent offensive plays inspired by De Nicolao. Sunday marks the debut of Mfiondu Kabengele, a muscle-packed center recruited urgently due to Tessitori's solitude under the boards. On the other side, Napoli (8-6) arrives at Taliercio with a sigh of relief – the win over Tortona ended a 4-game losing streak. Napoli is not yet secure in qualifying for the Italian Cup and might even achieve it with a loss in Venice. The Campanians are experiencing a prolonged physical decline, to which Ennis, Pullen, and Zubcic are trying to find a solution. Sufficient firepower to challenge Reyer, but not enough to surprise in the result. Unless Tucker and his teammates experience a blackout, expect a home win for Venice, scoring around 80 points.