EuroLeague Primer: Round 34 - Friday

EuroLeague Primer: Round 34 - Friday

This article is part of our EuroLeague Primer series.

PREGAME UPDATES

THE SLATE

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv at Zenit Saint Petersburg

Status Check: Othello Hunter (TEL), Omri Casspi (TEL), Yovel Zoosman (TEL)

Best Bets for Success: Dragan Bender is finishing the season on high note and has been one of Maccabi's best players of late. Bender averaged 34.1 DFS points in his last three starts and scored in double digits in four of his last five. He also didn't miss a free throw in last 11 games, converting 17 straight times from the line. Bender is often paired on the court with his countryman Ante Zizic, another player who has stood out for Maccabi in recent weeks. Zizic's performances produced an average of 28.0 DFS points in the last four games, and he scored 10 or over points in six consecutive outings. Both players should handle extended minutes Friday due to injuries in Maccabi's ranks. Billy Baron, despite regularly working off the bench, scored in double figures and averaged 20.7 DFS points in the last four outings. Kevin Pangos is mentioned here often, but Canadian was a main factor in Zenit's playoff chase. He is fourth best in dishing out assists in the league and averages 26.6 DFS points in last five outings. His ability to deliver in important moments will be needed by Zenit as they will want to win this one, without counting on other teams losing their final matchups. 

DFS Darlings: Elijah Bryant is not a locked starter in Maccabi roster anymore, but he delivers fantasy points amounts appropriate to his price most of the times. He averages 15.8 DFS points in last three outings. Austin Hollins has scored over 20 DFS points in two out of last three games, and will most likely start again for Zenit. Hollins is available at $6,000 for Friday's slate.

Khimki Moscow Region at Olympiacos Piraeus

Status Check: Alexey Shved (KHI), Jordan Mickey (KHI), Devin Booker (KHI), Stefan Jovic (KHI), Janis Timma (KHI), Dmitrii Kadoshnikov (KHI), Vladislav Odinokov (KHI), Livio Jean-Charles (OLY), Hassan Martin (OLY), Kostas Papanikolaou (OLY)

Best Bets for Success: Khimki will arrive in Greece shorthanded in every formation, with little to no chances of winning their last game of EuroLeague season. Errick McCollum is one of very few fit players that can produce on regular basis. American shooter is averaging 19.2 DFS points in last five outings and is valued by DraftKings at $8,200. Sergey Karasev has scored in double digits in last three games and started last nine for Russian team. He averages 20.3 DFS points in last five, and his form picked up in final stages of the regular season. Olympiacos' guards will have a great chance to finish EuroLeague campaign with a bang, as they will face worst defense against backcourt positions in the league. Kostas Sloukas has scored his season high 25 points in reverse matchup last year and, after poor game in Round 33 against Real Madrid, he will have a great chance to bounce back. Sloukas is sitting sixth in assists rankings for this season with 6.1 per game. He averaged 26.9 DFS points over last four outings. Sasha Vezenkov is again most expensive play in Olympiacos' ranks at $10,800, with six consecutive games with double figures in points column and 33.0 DFS points average over last five games.

DFS Darlings: Vyacheslav Zaytsev's playing minutes always increase without Alexey Shved on the court. In last four games without Khimki's top player, Zaytsev featured for 26 minutes per game, against just 14.5 with Shved available. That obviously translates to DFS points production with 16.9 and 8.5 in these instances respectively. Octavius Ellis spend only 12 minutes on court last time out, but will most likely see more minutes on court on Friday. Ellis averages 15.3 DFS points over last four showings and is priced by DraftKings at $5,900. Friday's matchup will likely be last EuroLeague outing in great career of Vassilis Spanoulis. Popular "Billy" could get more than usual time on court on this occasion, especially since the game has no bearing on the postseason. The legendary guard is priced by DraftKings at just $5,500.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul at AX Armani Exchange Milan

Status Check: Krunoslav Simon (IST), Kyle Hines (MIL), Michael Roll (MIL), Jeremy Evans (MIL)

Best Bets for Success: Efes is red-hot at the moment, beating two playoff contenders, Real and Baskonia, last week and scoring over 100 points in both games. Shane Larkin scored his season high 30 points last time out and extended run of double figures in points column to 16 consecutive games now. He averages 27.1 DFS points in last five and if Simon will not be fit to play, might start for second time in last three rounds. Vasilije Micic will accompany Larkin in Efes' backcourt and most effective duo of guards this season will be looking for another high fantasy points production. Micic has delivered an average of 29.5 DFS points over last five outings, not only scoring but also adding to assists and rebounds stats significantly. Sergio Rodriguez will likely be handed a rare start for Milan in absence of Michael Roll and considering that Malcolm Delaney will play for first time since February. Spaniard averages 21.2 DFS points and 5.7 assists over last three outings and his experience will be priceless in last game of regular season. Kevin Punter is Milan's top scorer this season with 14.9 points per game and converted at least two times from downtown in six out of last seven showings. He was also Italian champions top scorer in reverse matchup with 18 points in his account.

DFS Darlings: If Simon will sit this one out, James Anderson should feature more in season finale. He averaged 19.2 DFS points in games without Simon this season and is priced at just $4,500 on DraftKings. After very good game in last round, Vladimir Micov will be hoping to record third consecutive start on Friday night. Serbian forward has scored 15 points in addition to four rebounds and a single assist against Panathinaikos last week.

FC Bayern Munich at FC Barcelona

Status Check: Nick Weiler-Babb (MUN), Nihad Dedovic (MUN)

Best Bets for Success: FC Barcelona has already secured first place in the table after regular season, while Bayern will be fighting for better playoff spot and hoping that Milano will record loss in Round 34. Wade Baldwin has scored his season best 29 points in reverse fixture and is expected to deliver again. He averages 28.5 DFS point over last three outings, but his 11 games run of scoring double digits in consecutive games ended in last week's clash with Zalgiris. Vladimir Lucic scored over 20 fantasy points in seven games in a row now and should play his usual part in Friday's matchup. Serbian forward, chosen MVP of the Round twice in present season, averages 26.0 DFS points and 33.4 minutes in last five. Brandon Davies is most often starting game on the bench but that doesn't stop him from producing good hauls of fantasy points. In last three outings Davies averaged 24.1 DFS points and was close to recording double-double in last two. Nikola Mirotic, EuroLeague's March MVP, is by far top DFS point producer in Barcelona's ranks but his playing time might be affected by coming next Sunday El Classico in domestic league. 

DFS Darlings: Weiler-Babb's form is picking up in last weeks, with 24.4 DFS points averaged over last three outings. He contributes in all areas of the game and is available on DraftKings slate at $6,700, but it's unclear how much he will be counted on with his foot still sore. Kyle Kuric has struck again in last round's win against Fenerbahce with 16 points, including four three pointers from five attempts. Kuric averages 20.8 DFS points and 27.3 minutes on the court in last three games. Lastly, we should note that Pau Gasol checks in at a reasonable $5,900 for his Barcelona debut, but it's unlikely he will spend too much time on the court, so he could have a tough time returning significant value.

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Maciej Bogdanski plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: kmag115173.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maciej Bogdanski
Maciej is a former RotoWire contributor.
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