ASVEL at Barcelona
Date: 12/17
Time: 9:00 PM CET
Game Preview
A Barcelona squad that has gone 5-1 at the Palau Blaugrana this season will defend its home court against an ASVEL team that snapped a four-game losing streak its last time out. It's been an up-and-down campaign for ASVEL in its first EuroLeague season since 2010, but they are a respectable 6-7 and can get back to .500 with a win in Round 14. It's been really smooth sailing in Barcelona, as offseason additions Nikola Mirotic, Cory Higgins, and Brandon Davies have helped put the squad just a game back of first place heading into Tuesday's contest. A low-scoring ASVEL squad will need to get hot from the floor if they hope to match Barcelona's firepower and and hand them their second home loss of the season.
Injuries
LDLC ASVEL
Adreian Payne - OUT - Foot
12/6 9:50 PM IST - Payne (foot) is expected to return to action in Round 15 against ALBA Berlin, according to ASVEL's official website. It's been a slow go for Payne since he injured his foot in mid-October, but a date has now been set for his return to action. Payne will still need to avoid any setbacks over the next couple weeks in order to get back on the court on the target date.
FC Barcelona Lassa
Victor Claver - GTD - Foot
12/13 9:29 PM IST - Claver (foot) will not play Friday against Panathinaikos, according to as.com. Claver is getting close to returning to action, but he will not do so in Round 13. He was expected to see some practice time this week, though, so could have a chance to play in Barcelona's next EuroLeague game Tuesday against ASVEL.
Thomas Heurtel - OUT - Knee
12/7 11:35 PM IST - Heurtel (knee) has resumed taking jump shots, according to Barcelona's official Twitter account. Heurtel has been sidelined since undergoing knee surgery in August, but he has advanced to the point in his recovery where he can take part in on-court work. Heurtel still has a few steps to go before he will be ready to play again, but it appears he remains on track to return to action early in 2020.
Kevin Pangos - OUT - Toe
12/3 11:47 PM IST - Pangos is still dealing with soreness in his injured toe and will be evaluated on a "week-by-week" basis moving forward, according to eurohoops.net. It was anticipated that Pangos would return to action in 4-to-6 weeks after injuring his toe in September, but he has already missed two months and will need even more time to fully recover. A target date for his return has not been established, but based on this report, it seems safe to say he will not play in Barcelona's next EuroLeague game Friday against Khimki.
LDLC ASVEL Probable Starters
G - Jordan Taylor
G - Edwin Jackson
F - Charles Kahudi
F - Livio Jean-Charles
C - Tonye Jekiri
FC Barcelona Lassa Probable Starters
G - Cory Higgins
G - Adam Hanga
F - Rolands Smits
F - Nikola Mirotic
C - Brandon Davies
Top Picks
(Captain) Nikola Mirotic, BAR - Since scoring a season-low seven points in Round 9 Mirotic has simply been on fire, averaging 23.8 points -- a mark that would lead the league. His average of 19.6 ppg on the season is pretty impressive itself, and makes him the easy favorite to slide into the captain spot in this format.
Tonye Jekiri, ASV - Jekiri has not been scoring as regularly as he was earlier in the season, failing to reach double digits in the last three Rounds. However, he is still nearly averaging a double-double on the season, putting up 10.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per contest.
Cory Higgins, BAR - Inconsistency is the name of the game with Higgins, who scored just 21 total points over the last three Rounds but topped that mark in three singular Rounds over Barcelona's first 10 games. With Higgins struggling to score over the last few games, he seems due for a 20-point showing.
Captaincy Options
Dream11 Team
Delaney, Higgins, Lighty, Mirotic, Jekiri, Taylor, Hanga, Kahudi
Grand League Combination
Mirotic, Jekiri, Higgins, Lighty
Small League Combination
Mirotic, Jekiri, Higgins, Delaney
