This match turns on the first pass and the rebound that follows the shot. ASVEL brings several guards who have recently shared scoring and creation, while Red Star must redistribute its interior work among forwards. Both teams have answered early deficits, making the next attacking response more revealing than the opening lead.
Waters, Mills, Besson and Gach give ASVEL different ways to get an attack moving. All four contributed against Paris, and Waters followed that with six assists against Roanne. Bolomboy and Massa provide inside destinations alongside those guards, putting the focus on how Red Star balances pressure on the ball with help near the basket.
Jones and Weiler-Babb supply Red Star's passing, with Nwora, Butler and Ojeleye offering scoring around them. Red Star beat Buducnost with strong shooting, but gave up substantial second chances. That makes the work after the first contested shot a central matchup, alongside ASVEL's ability to reach its centers after beating pressure.
Izundu was injured in the last domestic game and is ruled out of this trip, with Motley already absent. Davidovac, Nwora and Ojeleye take on the missing interior work. Moneke and Butler rested in that game and are expected back, adding options to the visiting rotation. ASVEL is missing Dossou-Yovo, but Bolomboy and Massa both played its latest game.
I expect the opening exchanges to test ASVEL's entries, followed by a contest between the alternate creators as the rotations change. ASVEL's recovery against Paris and the late contributions from Waters and Besson give me a reason to favor its ability to restart scoring after an opposing run. The combination of those guard responses and the remaining inside outlets is why I'm siding with ASVEL to win at Astroballe.
