Due to the demanding matchup against Edy Tavares and the expected increase in Tonye Jekiri’s role, Kevarrius Hayes could have significantly less room for his usual scoring production.

Player Points Betting

Real Madrid enter Round 4 of the EuroLeague at the bottom of the standings and still without a win. Los Blancos have made the worst start in the history of their participation in the competition, and it is clear that they are now under pressure to get their first victory. It is obvious that coach Pedro Martinez and his staff will need time to implement a system that requires exceptional team play, an equal distribution of minutes and the absence of dominant alpha players. Real also struggled in the domestic league over the weekend, needing overtime to beat Obradoiro 114-107.

Partizan, on the other hand, are enjoying their best start since entering the EuroLeague. The Black and Whites have a perfect three wins from three games, with their outstanding competitiveness and defense standing out in victories over Milano, Paris and Bayern.

One of the key pieces of that defensive system is Kevarrius Hayes. In terms of minutes during the first three games, Hayes has operated as the backup center behind Tonye Jekiri, although head coach Joan Penarroya is also willing to use lineups without a traditional center in certain situations. Hayes has averaged slightly more than six points per game in his first three EuroLeague appearances. He has mostly benefited from his pick-and-roll partnership with Carlik Jones, but he has also converted several attempts from beyond the arc.

Now, however, he faces the toughest possible challenge in the form of multiple-time EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year Edy Tavares. Given the matchup, I expect Tonye Jekiri to receive more playing time, as he is a more reliable shooter from distance and can therefore pull Real Madrid’s towering center away from the paint. It is also possible that Joffrey Lauvergne could get a few minutes, which would further reduce Hayes’ opportunities.

I believe that the specific nature of this matchup could make it difficult for Hayes to find his usual scoring opportunities, meaning Partizan may need to rely more heavily on contributions from other players at the center position.