Playoffs underway, quarter-final predictions: who threatens Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna?

The highlight of the season has arrived. The thirty regular-season games defined the top three positions in the standings only on the last day, as did the line-up of the challengers seeded from 5 to 8. The balance in the top and central part of the standings was a constant for the entire season. And even if the prediction for the first round of Virtus Bologna and Olimpia Milano appears closed, the battery of outsiders is rich and fearsome.

By Davide Fumagalli. For the third year in a row Virtus Bologna and Tortona are facing playoffs. After two semi-finals in 2022 and 2023, both won 3-0 by Segafredo, this time the duel arrives in the quarterfinals: Luca Banchi’s team won the two regular season challenges and enters the postseason as number 1 on the board and from clear favorite to the final together with Olimpia Milano. Virtus, fresh from a positive year also in the Euroleague, closed to the Play-In, can count on a long and equipped roster in every roleon the experience of Hackett, Shengelia And Dunston among others, and on the effectiveness of a crazy Marco Belinelli, protagonist of a real rebirth at 38 years old (14 points on average).

Segafredo is the best attack of the A at 89 points on average and is first for assists, offensive rebounds and two-point percentage (59%), effectively a machine that can only jam on its own. On the other side there is a Tortona who has lived a complicated year with the change of coach, from Ramondino to De Raffaele (9-8 of record with WDR after the initial 5-8), various injuries, movements in the roster with the arrival of Colbey Ross And Kamagateand in general little continuity which forced it to finish in eighth place, not without difficulty after two years practically at the top, close to the Euroleague battleships. The experience of the great ex Kyle Weems, but also of Baldasso And Radosevic He may be useful, but this Derthona doesn’t seem to have the means to annoy Segafredo.

• The prediction: 3-0 Virtus Bologna

By Daniele Fantini. Seven consecutive victories to close the season. Best team of the second round (13-2). Milan enters the playoffs afterwards having partially removed doubts and difficulties which crippled her in the first part of the championship, ready to face the decisive phase of the season with the infirmary is clear And one of the best psycho-physical states of shape experienced another disappointing year in Europe. The recoveries of Nikola Mirotic And Devon Hall they will allow coach Messina to deploy his typical formation, supported by stainless steel Kyle Hines, the man with whom the red and white coach has always said he wanted to triumph – or sink.

Seasonal precedents (3-0, Italian Cup included) would draw a very tight prediction, but alongside the run in the Cup quarter-finals, Milan has always struggled against Trento, beaten twice in the championship only after great comebacks. However, L’Aquila is not the same sparkling team as at the beginning of the season, capable of deservedly conquering a slot in the Final Eight in Turin. Trent has lost 12 of its last 18 games, including the collapse from -47 in the last away game in Bologna. The Andrejs Grazulis injuries And Mattia Udomto which was added the more recent one of Saliou Niangwill force coach Galbiati to redesign chemistry and hierarchies in the front court, supported however by the entry of Daulton Hommessigned for the post-season after a short period as an aggregate.

• The prediction: 3-0 Milan

By Davide Fumagalli. After practically an entire regular season as leaders, Germani Brescia finished in third place and will have to deal with Estra Pistoia in the first round of the playoffs, the surprise of the championship having reached the postseason as newly promoted teams and with an even balance of 15 wins and 15 losses. Alessandro Magro’s Leonessa struggled after the Final Eight of the Italian Cup (5-5 after the initial 16-4) but has talent and experience to overcome the obstacle of this first round: the various ones Della Valle, Christon, Gabriel, plus the MVP candidate Bilan and the future 6th Man of the Year Massinburg they are a nice arsenal, even in spite of Petrucelli And Cobbins not 100%.

Of course Pistoia should not be underestimated: Nicola Brienza’s team, in their fourth playoff in history, the first since 2017, reaches this series with virtually no pressure and has the talent to put Germany in crisis. Estra lost the two regular season games but has two MVP candidates as Charlie Moore And Payton Willisplus the various ones Ogbeide, Wheatle, Varnado And Hawkins which can be annoying. It is clear that the Tuscans have a very short roster that will have to deal with the hardships of the season, the balance clearly tips towards Brescia, but caution is needed, also because Estra performed better away than at home (8-7, the only one above 50% with Virtus, Milan and Germani). The one between Brescia and Pistoia is a sort of rivalry, given the final promotion of 2012-13 won by the Tuscans. And then the Leonessa must be careful of the cabal: in the last playoff, 2021-22, Alessandro Magro’s team was seeded number 3 but went out 3-1 against Sassari, number 6.

• The prediction: 3-1 Brescia

By Daniele Fantini. As per tradition, the most intriguing and balanced pairing. The prediction is difficult. The values ​​in the field are too close. There are too many variables that can influence the only quarter-final challenge he offers previous ties even in the regular season, closely linked to the field-factor. Both show up with full rosters and ranks. While Reggio finds the darting energy of Briante Weberfresh from nomination for the Best Defender of the Year award, Venezia presents Neven Spahija with the possibility of a possible turnover of foreigners, interesting but always difficult to manage in the delicate moments of the post-season.

Reggiana has now entered Tarik Black alongside Darion Atkins to build a very physical front court, but will tend to live on the quality and effectiveness of perimeter guns. The destinies will pass, as always, between the hands of the aforementioned Weber but also and above all between the fingertips of Langston Gallowayregular-season MVP candidate, and Jamar Smith, the man destined to ignite the challenges from the bench. Venice, on the other hand, is deeper, more complete and more versatilebut less continuous for the general quality of the roster available, as demonstrated by the slowdown suffered in the first round after arriving in the Italian Cup as the #1 seed. Rayjon Tucker, another player in the running for the MVP award, promises sparks. As well as the hand-to-hand challenges between Black and Mfiondu Kabengele, players with a unique physicality for our championship. A name that could tilt many balances? Kyle Wiltjer. For tactical intelligence, experience and technical skills.

• The prediction: 3-2 Venezia