In the EuroLeague Final Four Championship, we've got a tantalizing matchup - Panathinaikos BC taking the court at Real Madrid.
Look, Real Madrid comes into this with a strong regular season track record at 27-7, better than Panathinaikos BC's 23-11. Their top players are showing up big-time in the playoffs, too. Facundo Campazzo is hitting his stride with 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and a whopping 6.8 assists per game in the playoffs. Guerschon Yabusele isn't slouching either, averaging 14.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Panathinaikos BC isn't exactly shaking in their boots. Kendrick Nunn, with his playoff averages of 18.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, looks to be a serious thorn in Real Madrid's side. And let's not forget Mathias Lessort, who's not been shy about getting in on the action, netting 15.0 points per game and gobbling up 8.0 rebounds.
Head-to-head, these teams threw punch for punch this past season. Panathinaikos picked up a win in February, but Real Madrid returned the favor in December.
Recent wins? Both sides have 'em. Panathinaikos BC hasn't been ruffled, pulling off wins against strong teams like Fenerbahçe Beko and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Real Madrid, on the other hand, has been steadily cracking skulls, with wins against Olympiacos BC and Saski Baskonia.
So, who has the edge? Well, Real Madrid seems to have a slightly more dominant display, but then again, Panathinaikos BC has the firepower to swing the momentum.
Albert's Prediction: Real Madrid by 5