Two matches where the gap comes from depth and from who is actually available, not from a flashy headline. One is a home side with a long record over its opponent against a young group still finding its system. The other is an early-season game between two leaky defences, where one side's guard group is in question.
In Ankara, Ziraat Bankasi face Altekma. Ziraat have won nine straight meetings, eight of them in straight sets, and they opened the season with a 3-0 win away at Fenerbahce. Their attack is deep: Ishikawa, Clevenot and Abdelaziz give them several ways to score, and their reception held up well in week one. Altekma are young, and their coach has said the system needs time. They did come back from 0-2 to beat Spor Toto, including a 25-9 set, so a serving run is their way into a set. Even so, the depth and attack quality should tell, and I expect Ziraat to win in three or four sets. That's why I'm siding with Ziraat to win by at least two sets.
In Charlotte, the Hornets host the Heat on the second night of a back-to-back for both. Charlotte lost 81-128 at home yesterday while shooting just over 40 percent, and the feed lists Coby White, Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams as doubtful, with Boswell out. Miami list nobody. The Heat are the faster, better-shooting side in the small sample, though they have leaked 128 and 131 in their two losses. If Charlotte's guards sit, Miami's pace goes uncontested and the gap should grow from the second quarter on. That's why I'm siding with Miami to win, at a modest size because the injury news is not final.
