Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Basketball Bundesliga match.
Bayern Munich and Ratiopharm Ulm meet in Munich for the decisive fifth game of the German Basketball Championship Final. The market heavily favours Bayern Munich, suggesting the trophy is virtually secured.
Bayern Munich
Was Bayern Munich significantly better than Ratiopharm Ulm in Game 4? It doesn’t appear so. The team managed just 67 points, and it was only due to a stroke of luck that this proved sufficient. Crucially, the key contributors underperformed once again. Nick Weiler-Babb went 0-for-7 from the field in 25 minutes, and veteran Vladimir Lučić added only eight points.
Ratiopharm Ulm
Ratiopharm Ulm faltered under the pressure. The squad sensed how close they were to the title, and that tension may have played a decisive role. They shot just 26.6% from the field in Game 4, with most misses coming from close range (9 of 26). However, this also highlighted a weakness in Bayern Munich’s defence: Ratiopharm Ulm pulled down 15 offensive rebounds. That could be a key factor in the deciding game.
Bayern Munich vs Ratiopharm Ulm Prediction
It’s unlikely Ratiopharm Ulm will produce another lacklustre performance on offence. They have already claimed one win in Munich during the series, so it’s hard to envision them going down without a fight. Backing the visitors with a positive handicap looks like a reasonable approach — the expectations for the hosts seem inflated.
