Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EuroLeague match.
ALBA Berlin and Paris Basketball enter their upcoming match with notably different levels of scoring capability. The German side sit at the bottom of the standings and are struggling offensively, whereas the French team are gaining momentum and, led by TJ Shorts, will aim to outplay the hosts.
ALBA Berlin
In their recent EuroLeague outings, Alba have consistently struggled to put points on the board, scoring fewer than 80 points in four of their last five games, highlighting their current offensive woes. The Berlin team typically rely on their defence and average between 72-75 points per game, which is below the tournament average. Alba are currently the main underdogs in the EuroLeague with just one victory against ASVEL and four defeats. However, there is a bright spot in the form of Iceland's Martin Hermannsson, who is averaging 15 points per EuroLeague game. A key issue for them is the absence of Matt Thomas, who was one of the most productive players for the German club last season, averaging around 10 points per game.
Paris Basketball
Paris, in contrast, play a more open style of basketball, scoring approximately 85.6 points per game over their last five matches, notably higher than Alba. This scoring boost is maintained through a high tempo and efficient shooting (about 64% on average). The team's main leader, TJ Shorts, averages 19.8 points per game. In a recent away game against AS Monaco, he made 10 of 15 field goals, racking up 28 points, along with 4 rebounds and 10 assists.
ALBA Berlin vs Paris Basketball Prediction
Given Alba's low average scoring and Paris's strong performance, the French club appear to be the clear favourites. Our focus, however, is on the hosts' scoring potential. Betting on Alba to score less than 80 points seems justified considering their recent results. As a safer option, one could take an individual total under 83.5 for them.
