Euroleague.net's team of experts have each made one bold prediction ahead of Round 5 of the 2024-25 season
Bold predictions, Round 5: Four road triumphs on the cards
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Four rounds are already in the books, so now it is time for Round 5 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, which features one game on Wednesday, five on Thursday and three on Friday.
In the lead-up to Round 5, the Euroleague.net experts have each come up with one bold prediction.
Virtus to shock Partizan, grab its first win
by Geoff Gillingham
Want to hear something crazy? Last week I predicted that Virtus Segafredo Bologna would go 2-0 and improve to a 2-2 record overall. That didn’t go to plan, but I am going to double down on the 0-4 Virtus and predict that Luca Banchi’s men get their first win of the season on the road at Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade on Wednesday night. Virtus is without guard Alessandro Pajola for this clash, but I believe we will see big performances from Toko Shengelia, Isaia Cordinier and Will Clyburn. I also think first-year guard Matt Morgan and rookie center Momo Diouf have what it takes to stun the home supporters. Virtus did beat Partizan at Belgrade Arena back in Round 17 last year, and I predict another surprise is on the cards.
Saben Lee to lead injury-plagued Maccabi past Zalgiris
by Javier Gancedo
Things are not looking good for Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv this week. Rokas Jokubaitis and Tamir Blatt, its two playmakers, are injured, Wenyen Gabriel is also out, plus Jordan Loyd left the team to join AS Monaco. Maccabi, however, signed Saben Lee and I expect him to inspire his team to a road win against Zalgiris Kaunas. Zalgiris had a strong start but Maccabi has favorable one-on-one matchups in this game, particularly Jalen Hoard at small forward and Jasiel Rivero at center. Above all, Lee has only shown us hints of the great player he is. This is already his third game in the competition and Lee should be ready to unlock his full potential. Due to all that, I will say that Lee scores at least 20 points and Maccabi wins at Zalgirio Arena.
Paris makes a road statement
by Igor Petrinovic
Paris Basketball has quickly proved it belongs and is ready to compete in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Each of the team's first four games in its debut campaign have been decided by five points or fewer, and I expect more drama in the French League derby in Monaco on Thursday. This Rivalry Series clash will also feature last year's EuroLeague MVP and the league's all-time leading scorer, Mike James, against last year's EuroCup MVP, Paris playmaker TJ Shorts, who is averaging 17.8 points after his first four EuroLeague games. Monaco is the favorite against its French League rival for many reasons, but I think Paris and Shorts will make another statement. After edging the reigning EuroLeague champs last week, the club from the French capital will shock Monaco and register the club's first EuroLeague road win.
It's time to believe in ASVEL
by Frankie Sachs
Do you believe in LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne? Because if you do, now is the time to say so. To date, the season has been just okay. Two wins at home against teams that made the playoffs or the Play-In Showdown last season... And two losses on the road. But we can learn more about teams through the first four rounds than just their records. And what we have seen is that this is a very talented ASVEL roster. Theo Maledon and Neal Sako have been killing it. Paris Lee is his old reliable self. And the cast of newcomers and veterans behind them – including Nando De Colo, David Lighty, Joffrey Lauvergne, Shaq Harrison, and Admiral Schofield – give coach Pierric Poupet the tools needed to mount a playoff challenge. Facing FC Barcelona on the road on Friday night is no simple task. However, Barcelona is also figuring things out, especially after losing star guard Nico Laprovittola to injury. And beating Barcelona in the Catalan metropolis is not impossible as three players on ASVEL's current roster – De Colo, Lighty and Charles Kahudi – can attest to. After all, they won there just two seasons ago. If there is ever a time to predict a repeat of that result, that time is now.