Spanish Liga Endesa Playoff Race

There are just a dozen games left in the 2015-16 Spanish Liga Endesa regular season and several teams are vying for the final two to three spots in the Top 8. Co-leaders Valencia Basket and FC Barcelona, which have identical 20-2 records are locked in after dispatching with their respective opponents on March 6th. Rounding out the Top 4 are Baskonian club Laboral Kutxa Vitoria and Real Madrid. At 18-4 both teams are not likely in danger of falling out of the Playoff picture. It would take a catastrophic losing streak over the next weeks for them to drop off. On that note, it would be safe (statistically speaking) to pencil them in as well. Sitting in fifth place is Herbalife Gran Canaria, which lost to Real Madrid 93-103 on Sunday. They are 14-8 and are not a lock to make the Top 8 just yet. While their loss did come at the hands of a Top 4 club, it does take away some of their momentum at this critical juncture in the regular season.

There are three spots which are expected to be tightly contest in the following weeks. Speaking of momentum loss, Baloncesto Fuenlabrada suffered an 81-86 loss to league leader Valencia Basket. Fuenlabrada (12-10) is two games behind Gran Canaria and are at risk of falling out of the Top 8.

Currently, the seventh and eighth spots are held by UCAM Murcia and Dominion Bilbao Basket. Both clubs are barely treading to keep afloat with their 11-11 slates. UCAM Murcia managed an easy win over cellar dwelling Gipuzkoa, 78-64. Bilbao Basket fell in Baskonia to Laboral Kutxa Vitoria in a crushing 108-62 slaughter. The Bilbao franchise needs a turnaround and fast. Their next couple of games will spell whether or not they will be able to hold on to the highly coveted Top 8 slot.

Which teams are in a position to barge their way into the Spanish Liga Endesa Top 8 picture over the next couple of weeks? Morabanc Andorra and Unicaja Malaga are at 10-12 and just one game outside and looking in. Unicaja is coming off a loss to FC Barcelona, 83-77. Andorra has a tough task as it takes on Real Madrid on March 13. Unicaja draws an easier opponent in 15th-placer CAI Zaragoza that same day. Two other teams which aren’t to be dismissed right away are FIATC Joventut and Iberostar Tenerife. At 9-13, they have an uphill battle to climb into the Spanish Liga Endesa Top 8.

With 12 games remaining, expect teams currently occupying the sixth to twelfth places to battle hard for a chance to make the post-season dream this 2015-16 a reality.