Paris vs Efes Prediction 14 January 2025

Which team will be higher in the EuroLeague standings after the 21st round? The middle of the table is so tight that Paris closes out the top six, while Anadolu Efes doesn't even make it into the play-in zone. However, in the upcoming match, which will take place in Paris at the "Adidas Arena," there is no clear favorite. Therefore, we will consider different options to make the prediction optimal.

Head-to-Head

Paris is a newcomer to the EuroLeague, so the only head-to-head meeting took place in the first round of the current season. In November, it was the French team that was stronger in Istanbul (93:84). At that time, they were on a roll and were among the leaders of the standings. Anadolu Efes, on the other hand, was playing without their leader - Shane Larkin, and the team was led by Tomislav Mijatovic.

Paris

Paris had a series of 10 victories, which allowed them to stay at the top of the standings for a while. However, they failed in their last five matches. Likely, their physical form has declined, and opponents have adapted to Paris's game. In any case, the team has started playing very weakly in defense. Over a span of six matches, they conceded no less than 85 points. Crvena Zvezda scored exactly that many against the capital team in the last round (69:85). At the same time, Paris, which averages 85.2 points per season, played one of their two worst offensive games. They scored less only in the match against Baskonia, but managed to win then.

Anadolu Efes

A few days ago, Anadolu Efes signed a contract with Luca Banchi, who was dismissed from Virtus during the season. Apparently, the management was not satisfied with Tomislav Mijatovic's work. However, the Croatian specialist remained on the coaching staff, which is rarely seen at the club level even in other sports. This tandem couldn't secure a victory over ASVEL in the last round (76:82). Anadolu Efes led by six points before the final quarter but lost by scoring just 10 points in the last 10 minutes. Despite different positions, Shane Larkin and Vincent Poirier both scored 14 points and had identical rebound and assist stats. It's worth noting that Rodrigue Beaubois, one of Anadolu Efes's leaders, spent less than 10 minutes on the court and did not contribute any significant actions.

Match Prediction

The signing of Luca Banchi raises questions. Anadolu Efes players didn't get the expected emotional boost, so they lost to one of the underdogs. Paris is also not in their best form, with most concerns about their defense. In the first round, both teams combined for 177 points. We expect a fairly open game in the 21st round as well. Therefore, as a key bet, we choose total over 168.5.