Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EuroLeague match.
Olympiacos Piraeus were among the frontrunners for the EuroLeague title last season, but their campaign was cut short in the semi-finals by Real Madrid. This time around, they face AS Monaco Basket, and head coach Georgios Bartzokas will be determined not to repeat past mistakes.
Olympiacos Piraeus
Cracks in the Olympiacos setup had already begun to show in the quarter-finals, where they faced an inconsistent Real Madrid. Moustapha Fall struggled significantly, particularly when matched up against the experienced Walter Tavares, averaging just 3.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. The upcoming opposition will undoubtedly be no easier. Another let-down came from Shaquielle McKissic, who came off the bench but failed to score in three of the four games in the series. The burden has largely fallen on Sasha Vezenkov, but the big question remains: can he shoulder the load on his own?
AS Monaco Basket
AS Monaco Basket faced stiff resistance from FC Barcelona in their quarter-final series, which they edged 3:2. As a result, they are now battle-tested. Veteran Mike James has reaffirmed his status as the leader of AS Monaco, averaging 16.6 points per game. More importantly, he has never been left without support. On different nights, Georgios Papagiannis and Élie-Franck Okobo stepped up to contribute offensively, while Daniel Theis and Alpha Diallo provided consistent backup. The depth of AS Monaco's rotation appears far better suited for a hard-fought semi-final clash than that of Olympiacos.
Olympiacos Piraeus vs AS Monaco Basket Prediction
Despite being considered favourites, Olympiacos were defeated by AS Monaco in their most recent head-to-head clash at the end of March. The visitors' depth and the experience of their key players have been overlooked. Therefore, we recommend backing the nominal away side with a slight advantage.
