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New season, new hopes but same old habits for Milano. Again they invested heavily in the market bringing in huge names, Mike James and Nemanja Nedovic really stand out, but failed to really address what has been their biggest weakness these last few years and that is a lack of role players capable of doing the dirty work. At least some level of continuity was maintained with 7/12 of last season's roster returning, including head coach Pianigiani and that's a step in the right direction. The start has certainly been positive although defense seems as atrocious as always with no players in their backcourt capable of providing defensive stops. Khimki have suffered a nightmare start with 3 defeats in as many games but things are not as bad as they seem. The team hasn't had the easiest of schedules and after the opening game and crushing defeat to Olympiakos, Khimki have shown a better face in their last two matches against Fenerbahce and Efes remaining in the game until the end. More is required of course and this is still a work in progress but they remain a dangerous team to play against and Milano certainly does not provide any guarantees, especially on the defensive end. Anything over 3.00 for Khimki is fine to get involved.

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Battle of the two newly promoted teams in the Greek League, Peristeri and Holargos but who are aiming higher than simply remaining in the first division this season as they have both assembled decent rosters and are led by two experienced, highly-respected coaches, Pedoulakis and Lykogiannis respectively. Peristeri have already shown their teeth snatching two huge wins over AEK and Promitheas while Holargos were also highly competitive against greek giants Olympiakos despite some injury issues to Dorsey and Hawkins, before getting their first win of the season against Kolossos at home last week, playing for the first time at full strength. The 3.52 for the visitors seems good enough to get involved here.

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A pretty turbulent start to the season for Andorra with some decent performances such as against Barcellona and Badalona alternating a few problematic ones, most notably last weekend's home loss to injury depleted Manresa. Still, this early in the season it's common for most teams to face ups and downs. Andorra have done an excellent job this summer bringing in Ibon Navarro to replace long-time coach Joan Penarroya and bolstering their roster with some really interesting pieces such as Dylan Ennis, Shayne Whittington and Michele Vitali. Overall a very deep team with some excellent 3p. shooters, they are bound to have a successful campaign. Crvena Zvezda on other hand have hit the ground running, starting with 5 straight wins in all competitions they are involved in but usually nothing is as good(or as bad) as it seems in the first few weeks of the season. That's not to say this is a weak team. They are certainly amongst the second tier teams in a very competitive Eurocup and they can count on one of the loudest arenas in Europe. Having said that though, anything over 4.00 for Andorra seems really big too ignore.

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Prishtina stunned Groningen in the first game winning unexpectedly by 20 points of margin and while the difference in quality between these two teams is not that big, I still don't see Prishtina as huge outsiders here today. The team from Kosovo have built a decent roster relying on their backcourt of ex-Orthez point guard Kyan Anderson and Berisha an experienced, prolific scorer who after a stint with Nymburk last season, is back with Prishtina. Big man Boukichou is another respectable player coming from Chalon, France. Groningen is probably the most recognisable name in this match-up, have a couple of Dutch internationals in newly-signed Hammink and veteran Slagter but otherwise their overall talent and european experience is quite limited. Perhaps today the Dutch will show a better face playing in front of their fans but at odds over 3.00 Prishtina gets my vote. If you have access to Dafabet make sure you grab their odds at 3.85.

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Another Champions League game with Torun facing Minsk in Poland. Both teams relying heavily on their local Polish and Belarussian players respectively. In fact Torun's biggest signing this summer was Polish giant Karnowski from Fuenlabrada while Minsk added another Belarussian international, Vitali Liutych coming from a good season with Enisey. What was said in our previous pick is valid for this one too, as Torun may have home court advantage but the visitors are an experienced, hardy team. I wouldn't rule out a surprise victory for Minsk here.

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The Champions League Qualifying phase begins today with Levski Sofia going against Siauliai in Lithuania. Obviously not two household names in the competition but still an interesting game for us betting wise. While it's early days and no official matches played yet, we can still measure somewhat the potential of the two teams. In that regard Siauliai is coming into the new season in a clearly weakened state. The core of the team, Birutis and Sabeckis have departed to join Zalgiris this summer while veteran big man Urbutis is out injured. Newcomers Delph, Terrell, Kapelan and Urbas really seem like a downgrade at least at first sight but time will tell. Levski Sofia have made some interesting moves this off season bringing in twin brothers Dejan and Kaloyan Ivanov, two big men with extensive european experience who alongside Avramov and newly signed Patrick Rembert will carry the team this season. At least on paper it appears like a wide open game tonight but as always this early in the season with no statistical data and form indicators, we should be a little cautious as the margin of error is bigger so let's stick to 2 units for this one. Sorry for the delay but as I was about to post the pick as a straight Levski win, the odds shortened significantly at Pinnacle from 2.39 to 2.13 so let's take the handicap instead although Bet365 and William Hill have the best odds at the moment and the value is not as high anymore.

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The continuous coming and going of players in the national teams due to the Euroleague-FIBA conflict has really created a big confusion for everyone involved - coaches, spectators, bookies and us punters alike - but also creates opportunities. This is one of those and hopefully we will be able to take advantage. Just when Bosnia-Herzegovina managed to secure the presence of NBA-ers Nurkic and Musa with the national team, they lost experienced point guard Gordic, a serious blow considering the lack of quality options in the backcourt. Having said that, I still think they are getting underrated here. Finland have their own issues to deal with as Wilson and especially Bulls star Markkanen are missing although they will be having back both Koponen and Salin. To make things even more unpredictable Bosnia-Herzegovina will present themselves with a new coach as well, as Vujosevic was recently replaced but Repesa! Many variables to consider for this match but at prices over 3.00 I have no issues taking a chance with the visitors here.

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Israel and Georgia start the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers with limited chances of securing a top-3 spot in their group considering the presence of Serbia, Greece and Germany and this looks already like a do or die game for both teams. The hosts Israel have to deal with two serious issues. First, the suspension of center Richard Howell who has been their mvp during the first round and arguably their only reliable interior presence and second, the injury of veteran Pnini with Di Bartolemeo and Menco taking their place in the roster. Georgia present themselves almost at full strength with Shengelia and Shermandini returning to the team as well as a new face, Baskonia's sharpshooter Matt Janning making his debut and replacing McFadden as a naturalized player for this window of matches, giving coach Zouros a pretty competitive squad. I fail to see the reasons for Israel's favouritism here. Other than home court advantage the hosts don't have much to cheer about and Georgia should have every chance of stealing this one.

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Lavrio surprised Promitheas but eventually lost their big chance of winning Game 1 and gaining the upper hand in the series. Promitheas are now getting both Hall and Milosevic back from injuries and will play at full strength trying to close the series today. Form-wise the teams are moving in opposite directions with Lavrio having lost 7 of their last 8 matches, winning only against the lowly Faros and ultimately paying the departures of both Gray and Lamb in the last few weeks. Promitheas on the other hand have won 6 of their 7 games since April, including two victories over the same Lavrio team they are facing again tonight. Ultimately the visitors Promitheas have a more talented, much deeper roster, are in great shape and I can't see why they are such big outsiders here.

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Lavrio surprised Promitheas but eventually lost their big chance of winning Game 1 and gaining the upper hand in the series. Promitheas are now getting both Hall and Milosevic back from injuries and will play at full strength trying to close the series today. Form-wise the teams are moving in opposite directions with Lavrio having lost 7 of their last 8 matches, winning only against the lowly Faros and ultimately paying the departures of both Gray and Lamb in the last few weeks. Promitheas on the other hand have won 6 of their 7 games since April, including two victories over the same Lavrio team they are facing again tonight. Ultimately the visitors Promitheas have a more talented, much deeper roster, are in great shape and I can't see why they are such big outsiders here.

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Avellino came close at upsetting Trento in Game 3 controlling the match for the first 3 quarters but unfortunately they fell apart at the last quarter, victim of the overly physical defense of Trento that forced Avellino to 20 turnovers and which the referees tolerated from start to finish. In the end Avellino was incredibly charged with more fouls than Trento but these things can happen. The home team also found an unlikely protagonist in Franke who scored 17 points coming off the bench but I wouldn't count on that happening again. Do or die game tonight for Avellino who in case of a defeat their season will end prematurely. As far as I'm concerned nothing changes. The teams are very close as proven yet again and it's still possible the series goes to a 5th and final game. From the moment the odds are even better to the previous match I see no reason why not to back Avellino again here.

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The odds for Avellino keep rising since this morning and now it's the right time to get involved here. The two teams have won a game apiece and the series moves to Trento for the next two matches. Avellino present themselves in the playoffs with a heavily revised roster after the signings of Renfroe and Auda who have made themselves useful right from the start giving the team a much needed dose of depth especially after the physical issues of Fesenko, Lawal and the under-performing Fitipaldo. Trento on the other hand have accomplished their goal of winning one game on the road but have paid dearly after the squalification of Beto Gomes for the next couple of matches especially considering the less than optimal state of Shields who has been the most in-form player for them lately. The teams seem very close at the moment so I can't see why odds keep drifting today. Still, no reason for us not to take advantage now.

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Another strange set of odds for the Greek A1 league after the Panionios-PAOK match a couple of days back. AEK may have lost 4 of their last 5 games but all losses came against the top-4 teams and while their involvement in the Champions League in which they have subsequently triumphed, certainly caused a major distraction. We have already mentioned Kymi's impressive turnaround to their season and have now secured a place in the playoffs after going on a 6 game winning streak taking advantage of a more than soft schedule that showed them play 4 times at home and opponents at the lower half of the standings although they will be going against a very different level of opposition when they face AEK tomorrow. There are some rumours that AEK may prefer to lose and effectively choose Promitheas as an opponent in the first round of the playoffs instead of PAOK but I'm not buying this. I expect AEK will try to bounce back especially after getting crashed by rivals Panathinaikos two days ago and even more so playing in front of their fans. There is simply not a big enough incentive to lose on purpose. Obviously Kymi are still a good enough team and may ultimately win without any "help" but with such a small handicap(-3.5), we'd rather back AEK here.

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The playoffs begin in Italy and Milano are going up against rivals Cantu for the first round. Probably not the easiest match-up for Milano who once again will be the team to beat despite finishing second in the regular season. Don't get me wrong, they are still the heavy favourites especially in a best of 5 game series. Their pure talent and unparalleled depth can't be ignored. On the other hand they have certainly appeared vulnerable more often than expected losing 3 times at home this season, more than in all last 3 seasons combined. Cantu are quite an atypical team. They run and shoot a lot while commiting the fewer turnovers than any other in the league and are in fact the 4th more efficient offense in Serie A. Obviously there is a "but" and that is their defensive performance. Excluding the two bottom teams only Sassari performed worse on that end and that is a weakness they will probably pay sooner or later. That doesn't detract from the fact that in a single game they can beat anyone as they have already proved in the Italian Cup by demolishing the same Milano team. They have a lot of offensive firepower and their streaky shooters can get hot really quickly. With odds standing comfortably over 6.00, I reckon it's worth seeking the surprise backing Cantu here.

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The odds don't make much sense here. Panionios were doing fine before the break with 6 victories in their last 10 games but some internal issues led to the departure of coach Ziagos and the hiring of veteran Alexandris although if their first showing is anything to by, it didn't seem like a wise move while players expressed their backing for their ex-coach and the board tried to bring him back! Panionios will need at least another win in the remaining two matches to avoid relegation and they will have to face PAOK without their loyal and passionate fans due to a ban imposed. PAOK were on a 7 game winning streak before losing to giants Olympiakos on Sunday and remain in hunt for a top-4 spot in the standings and home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Nothing here to justify these kind of odds and I will gladly take the 2.45 for PAOK's victory.

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Despite losing Wells to injury and Pelle to Torino, Varese are on an incredible 7 game winning streak since mid March and now inside the playoff zone exceeding even their own expectations. On the other hand it cannot be denied that this is an overachieving, relatively limited roster both in talent and depth and their second round 11-2 record and win rate is almost unnatural and certainly unsustainable. Cremona are back in the playoff picture after two straight victories and this is clearly a must win game to keep their hopes alive. While it's a tough proposition going against an in form team like Varese, I simply can't ignore the odds for Cremona here in what is essentially a game between two evenly matched teams.

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Despite losing Wells to injury and Pelle to Torino, Varese are on an incredible 7 game winning streak since mid March and now inside the playoff zone exceeding even their own expectations. On the other hand it cannot be denied that this is an overachieving, relatively limited roster both in talent and depth and their second round 11-2 record and win rate is almost unnatural and certainly unsustainable. Cremona are back in the playoff picture after two straight victories and this is clearly a must win game to keep their hopes alive. While it's a tough proposition going against an in form team like Varese, I simply can't ignore the odds for Cremona here in what is essentially a game between two evenly matched teams.

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Pesaro were once again very poor last week in a match Cantu dominated from start to finish and things get tougher for them as they now face Milano on the road. Starting center Mika is still a major doubt for today's encounter having trained only individually during the week. At this point I'd surprised if coach Galli decides to risk him in a game that appears lost for Pesaro anyway. Milano have suffered their first defeat in the last 10 games and are now sharing the top spot with Venezia. With Theodore and Micov recovered, they are again at full strength and will be looking to bounce right back. Really daunting task ahead for visitors Pesaro and while they can't afford to pick games anymore considering the remaining schedule doesn't get much easier, this is still a game beyond their means. I'm always a little cautious when dealing with big handicaps like this but all things considered I can't see Pesaro avoiding a heavy defeat here. In any case let's stick to 2 units for this one.

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With just one win above the relegation zone, Zaragoza have really outdone themselves on the transfer market bringing in both Ennis and Bjelica who partecipated in the Euroleague with Red Star this season and are set to debut tomorrow. Form-wise performances and results have been poor with only one victory recorded in 8 matches since March. Murcia are in a much better shape having won 8 of their last 10 games in all competitions and still battling for a playoff spot although the physical condition of several players including Kloof, Rojas, Soko, Lima and Tumba is questionable having suffered from various ailments during the week and it remains to be seen if all of them will make it in time for the game. Truth be told, judging the situation on team strength and form alone doesn't leave many hopes for Zaragoza but the additions of Ennis and Bjelica coupled with Murcia's physical struggles, create somewhat of an unknown variable to this match. I reckon Zaragoza's win at 4.75 it's worth our attention here.

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With Dallas Moore going down with injury and Orlandina's last week victory, Pesaro's situation is now critical. Last place in the standings and a tough schedule up ahead don't leave much room for optimism. While the team did eventually strengthen the roster with the signings of Clarke and more recently Braun, Moore's loss is a huge blow. He was a pleasant surprise and the top offensive option of an anemic attack that produced just over 77 points while in the last 4 matches since Moore's injury, they are scoring a little less than 73. To make matters worse starting center Mika looks a serious doubt for tomorrow after missing all training sessions since Thursday. After completing a very demanding last month, Cantu find themselves just outside the playoff zone but with every chance of climbing up the table considering the soft remaining schedule. While Cantu's effectiveness drops on the road and for Pesaro this is a must win game, I have serious doubts the hosts can stop Cantu's up-tempo, run and gun style of play. Anything over 1.70 for the visitors's -2,5 handicap looks fine to me.