Abdi İpekçi'de AVRUPA ŞAMPİYONLUĞU günü
The Take
A new Eurocup champion will be crowned at Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall, as visiting Strasbourg will step on court with a four-point lead over host Galatasaray. Expect nothing but an outstanding basketball atmosphere to match the importance of this game, as Abdi Ipekci sold out just minutes after tickets went on sale. Strasbourg downed Galatasaray 66-62 in Game 1 behind 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists from team captain Louis Campbell. In what was its worst scoring night this season, Galatasaray hit just 3-for-18 three-point shots and picked up 15 turnovers.
Galatasaray is 10-1 at home this season, winning its last seven games by double figures with an average margin of victory of 23.3 points. At the same time, Strasbourg has only lost once on the road since it jo*ned the 2015-16 Eurocup from the Euroleague at mid-season and is 3-0 away in elimination series. So, Strasbourg has been a road warrior but Galatasaray has been almost indestructible at home.
Two experienced head coaches Galatasaray's Ergin Ataman and Strasbourg's Vincent Collet guarantee a great tactical battle. Strasbourg and Galatasaray will not only battle to become the first team in their respective countries to lift the Eurocup trophy, but also to earn the right to play in the 2016-17 Turkish Airlines Euroleague. Follow the game LIVE on Eurosport 2 and as always, right here on Eurocupbasketball.com! .
Strasbourg head coach Vincent Collet often plays twin playmakers, with two of them on the court at all time: Campbell and Rodrigue Beaubois play a big role, but Paul Lacombe is equally important. All three must try to again stop Eurocup MVP Errick McCollum, who was limited to 8 points on 3-for-11 shooting in Game 1.
Curtis Jerrells and Sinan Guler will also see playing time at point guard for the Game 2 hosts. Galatasaray relies on Blake Schilb and Vladimir Micov at the forward spots. Micov will use his experience and deep range against a good defender like Matt Howard, while Guler and Schilb will not have it easy against Mardy Collins and Kyle Weems, two big swingmen with all-around skills. Strasbourg has a size advantage in the paint with Bangaly Fofana and Romain Duport, but Chuck Davis who became the second-ranked scorer in Eurocup history in Game 1 and Stephane Lasme are athletic, experienced players ready to battle anyone.
Galatasaray must try to play up-tempo and rely on a sea of red-and-yellow fans to be their sixth man in this game. Strasbourg must keep control and play defense just the way they did in Game 1. The Eurocup winner will also earn the right to play in the 2016-17 Turkish Airlines Euroleague, which is an extra motivation for what promises to be a very intense, exciting showdown!