SWOT Preview: What to expect in WASL's first week back

BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Expect fireworks when the West Asia Super League (WASL) plunges back into after over a month on Monday.

With the group stage down to its last three weeks, teams will surely be shifting into higher gear, with each and everyone of them out to make one last push to earn their respective tickets to the playoffs.

Now, let's take a look at some of this week's games that we bet won't have any shortage of excitement, given the competing teams' history.

 Al Bashaer vs  Al Hilal
18:00 (GMT+4)
Bawshar
Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex

 Kazma vs  Shabab Al Ahli - Dubai
19:30 (GMT+3)
Kuwait City
Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sports Complex

 Al Riyadi vs  Al Naft
17:40 (GMT+2)
Beirut
Saeb Salam Stadium

STRENGTHS

Shabab Al Ahli Dubai are coming into their clash with Kazma as one of the only two unbeaten teams in WASL, and that's thanks to their well-deployed attack led by Nick Minnerath, Qais Omar Alshabebi, and Brandon Triche.

The Minnerath-Alshabebi tandem has so far proven that having a formidable frontcourt would do wonders, just like the case of Al Hilal.

Sitting behind the Group A leaders, the Saudi Arabian crew has emerged as a favorite with young star Mohammed Alsuwailem leading the charge, and he's expected to dominate once more against Al Bashaer.

WEAKNESSES

At 1-3, Kazma are among the clubs looking to turn their fortunes around entering the preliminaries' home stretch, but it may be easier said than done given that they will have to resume their campaign without a key piece.

Just last February, the Kuwaiti ball club and Kevin Murphy mutually parted ways, marking the end of the gunslinging vet's stint that began late last year,

Murphy was among WASL's best scorers with a Gulf-leading 28.0 points, on top of 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in three games.

OPPORTUNITIES

Al Naft (1-1) are looking to gain a share of the Group B leadership in WASL-Gulf and they could do so against a foe they've previously beaten.

The Iraqi squad will be flying to Beirut to face Al Riyadi and they're coming in with the mental edge. They won in their previous encounter by a big margin, 100-87, on their home floor at the Al Shaeb Hall in Baghdad.

Plus, things could go in their favor this time again with Wael Arakji's uncertainty. The Al Riyadi star is still undergoing rehabilitation from an injury, the reason why wasn't with Lebanon in the recent FIBA World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers.

THREATS

Al Riyadi may or may not be undermanned against Al Naft but one man the latter should watch out for is spitfire guard Amir Saoud.

The 32-year-old was one of the bright spots in their last matchup when he fired 23 points but he's coming in with sky-high confidence following solid performances for his mother team and with Lebanon last February.

After dropping 41 in a club competition in Dubai, the veteran internationalist would average 27.5 points on 50-percent shooting from deep for the Cedars in Window 6 of the recently-concluded World Cup Qualifiers.

FIBA