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Berzninkaitis: They're very dangerous

Zalgiris and Bayern are trying to open the Top 16 stage well, and both see this game as their big chance

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Zalgiris opened this season with much uncertainty. They had to let go a few key players due to financial problems, they had to leave the VTB League, which made the EuroLeague the single most important thing for the club. Given the circumstances, getting through to Top 16 is a great success. It was not easy, they were fighting for it up until the last round, but Zalgiris learned they are getting through already during their game against Brose, because Efes lost to Real. Nevertheless, they played a fair game, fought till the end, and managed to beat the German team, which helped the Turks to get through to the next stage.

Zalgiris were in a way rewarded for their fair play. As the situation in other groups unraveled, they were placed in a slightly 'easier' group, in which they have the chance even to play a more significant part. It will definitely not be easy, only top-quality clubs made it to Top 16, but a few teams, Partizan and Bayern Munich especially, are not invincible. Home arena will be Zalgiris' biggest strength, only the mighty Real recorded a win in Lithuania, while Milano, Efes, Brose, and Strasbourg lost.

The opening offers one of the best opportunities for the win - Bayern have great expectations, they are an ambitious project, but the Lithuanian champion can handle them. Especially with all their fan support. The home team's coach and his assistants know that a good start to the next round would mean a lot, which is why their expectations of this game are high.

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- The German team have a number of important players. Only two of them are scoring more then 10 points per game, but seven are scoring between 6 and 10 on average. They're very dangerous and stopping them is difficult - Berzininkaitis said.

The visiting team were quite lucky to reach the Top 16, and that was seen as one of the greatest successes in their history - they were a second division club only four years ago. They are controlling the Budesliga, while the EuroLeague didn't go that well. They managed to record only four wins (only one of them away).

- Our second stage group is very tough. It's made up of teams which will probably be winning championship titles in their respective leagues, and which have been in this competition for years. Zagiris are definitely one of those clubs...Lithuania is probably the only country in which football is not more popular than basketball. Winning in Kaunas is not easy for anyone, but our defense as a team will be crucial- coach Pesic said.

He won't be able to count on a very important scorer Nihad Dedovic, who is still struggling with the ankle injury. As a result of that, point guard Delaney will probably have get even more responsibility in back court. With an average of 14,6 points per game, he is Bayern's best scorer in the EuropLeague. He is also the only visiting team's player who starter every EuroLeague game.

- This is a great challenge for us. The Top 16 is like a well deserved candy. We'll try and win all the home games from now on, maybe win once or twice away, and then see if that will do - Robin Benzing said.

Bayern played their last game on December 26th, which means they'll be well rested and prepared for this game. They managed to beat Ulm home in the last game without much difficulty. They were ahead by 11 points after the first quarter already, 17 by half time, and the game was pretty much settled at that point. 

Delaney scored 18 points, but center Bryant who recorded a double-double (13 points plus 12 rebounds), was the man of the game. The Bavarians managed to score 13 three pointers (27 attempts). That will definitely be extremely important in this game as well, just like the co-operation between Bryant and Thompson in the key. Thomposon is gradually getting in form.