Round 10 of the EuroLeague is here, and for Bayern that means another road trip — this time to Lyon, in south-eastern France. On Thursday night, the Munich side will be looking to climb back up the standings. Coach Anton Gavel’s team have gone four games without a win and are still searching for their third of the season. It will be no easy task against a host coached by four-time NBA champion Tony Parker: the French record champions are unbeaten at home (5–0). Tip-off in Lyon is at 8pm, live on MagentaSport.
Villeurbanne unbeaten at home
Villeurbanne are on the rise after back-to-back home wins over Partizan (82–75) and, last week, Baskonia (94–79). Parker’s team now have four wins from nine games (FCBB: 2–7). They lead the EuroLeague in two statistical categories: ASVEL are the league’s best three-point shooting team, hitting 41.5% from an average of 27 attempts per game. Their 21.9 assists per game are also a league high.
“Villeurbanne are a very dangerous opponent, especially at home, but we have to — and will — raise our level in the EuroLeague after the BBL game,” Gavel said on Wednesday. “They have very good shooters from the perimeter and play well together. I’m confident our team will be well prepared.”
Patty Mills leads the way
The standout name in the Lyon side is new arrival Patty Mills. The Australian NBA veteran joined from Tenerife in the summer and, at 38, is among the league’s leading scorers (15.1 points per game, 47.5% from three). French guard Hugo Besson (11.7 points per game, 45.5%) and US forward Jae Crowder (10.9, 41.7%) are also shooting well from deep. Under the basket, experienced EuroLeague centre Joel Bolomboy (6.1 points, 4.7 rebounds per game; previously with Crvena Zvezda) does the hard work.
Other new arrivals include 25-year-old guard TyTy Washington (10.8 points per game, 54.5% from three), who has played in the NBA for the LA Clippers, Phoenix and Houston, and forward Myles Cale (10.9 points per game), who was on FC Barcelona’s roster last season.
Matching that athleticism and firepower will be Bayern’s challenge in Lyon. The Munich side may have an edge in the paint: FCBB centre Austin Wiley put in a strong performance against Braunschweig, recording a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 108–66 win.
“We know Lyon from the pre-season, but this will be a different game,” Wiley said. “We want to build on our performance in the league and finally get back to winning ways in the EuroLeague.”