With Kostas Sloukas having the very best efficiency of his profession within the Euroleague and setting a profession file with 29 factors, Panathinaikos “answered” Maccabi within the burning OAKA (95-79) and introduced the collection of play offs even (1- 1).
THIS was the Kostas Sloukas Panathinaikos followers dreamed of when he signed his contract final summer time.
The one who would take issues into his personal fingers when all of it got here all the way down to it. No matter preceded his mistake in Sport 1. Not solely was he not affected, however he managed to show in the very best efficiency of his Euroleague profession with 29 factors on 8/9 2-pointers, 4/7 3-pointers, 1/1 taking pictures, 4 assists and three rebounds.
Ioannis Papapetrou was additionally glorious, who in flip performed his finest sport this season, having 15 factors with 4/7 three-pointers, 3/4 photographs, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of steals.
Now the collection strikes to Belgrade the place Panathinaikos will attempt to get again house benefit within the Holy Week.
The match: Panathinaikos – Maccabi
As within the first match of the collection, so too in the beginning of Sport 2, Maccabi was very correct within the photographs inside youngsters and tried to re-impose their offensive rhythm. And he largely succeeded! Lorenzo Brown distributed and scored whereas Jake Cohen was once more the “x issue” of the Israelis within the first a part of the match as with 10 factors he introduced Maccabi to +7 (16-23) having 7/7 two-pointers! The protection of Panathinaikos was very dangerous throughout this era, on account of which the first interval ended with the rating at 20-28 in favor of the guests.
Oded Katas' workforce had as much as that time 8/9 two-pointers, 4/7 three-pointers, 6-1 rebounds and eight assists for two errors, whereas respectively the “greens” had counted 7/14 two-pointers, 2/4 three-pointers, 3 -3 rebounds and 4 assists for 1 error. The issue was primarily defensive, with Maccabi gamers discovering their method to the Panathinaikos basket with typical ease, as evidenced by 12/16 photographs.
With Kalaitzakis within the “3”, Papapetrou within the “4” and Antetokounmpo within the “5”, Panathinaikos grew to become extra “robust” in protection and tried to “nibble” the distinction, having the duo of Sluka and Vildosa within the guards. He partially succeeded by decreasing it to 30-33 at 14' whereas additionally lacking three alternatives to equalize. Maccabi “answered” with 3-0 for 30-36 and the brand new distinction within the two possessions. Brown masterfully led his workforce throughout that point, being the very best participant on the ground.
From that time on got here the… ups and downs! The captain of Panathinaikos gave the massive sign of the counterattack and with 13 factors within the 2nd interval, having hit three three-pointers in a row, the “greens” made a powerful 19-2 (!) and located themselves main by 11 factors (49-38) having effected the whole overthrow. A interval the place the protection was nothing like the primary quarter.
In truth, the half ended with Panathinaikos main by 12 factors (51-39), the largest in your entire first half of the match. It’s typical that the partial rating of the 2nd interval was 31-11 (!!!) with Slukas having 15 factors with 3/3 two-pointers and three/5 three-pointers, Mitoglou one other 8 factors and 4 rebounds and Papapetrou (6p. ) to assist so much within the protection towards Coulson. Maccabi's accuracy stopped from one level after which closing the half with 11/17 2-pointers, 5/13 3-pointers, 2/4 photographs, 9-4 rebounds and 13 assists for six turnovers. Accordingly, Panathinaikos had 13/20 two-pointers, 6/14 three-pointers, 7/8 photographs, 10-6 rebounds and 10 assists for 4 errors.
Firstly of the second half, Panathinaikos was main by 17 factors (56-39 at 22'), having began with a 5-0 run. And it didn't cease there. With Nan and Papapetrou getting into the equation, the rating index reached +18 (64-46 at 25') with the “greens” being dominant on each side of the ground. Maccabi could have cursed options with Tamir Blatt's lengthy photographs however the “greens” managed the match and saved a distinction of 15 factors (71-56) earlier than accepting a 4-0 run within the closing seconds for 71-60. Kostas Sloukas was unstoppable (22 factors) however shortly earlier than the top of the 4th interval he was charged with a 4th foul.
Because it turned out in hindsight, this era utterly disorganized the Greek workforce, which suffered a sudden… blackout and acquired a complete 12-0 run for 71-68 at 32'! The offense appeared to “stick” whereas Maccabi grabbed the rebounds and “hit” in transition getting factors with full-court passes. Primarily, Katas' “zone” was the one which modified the picture of the match, on account of which the Israelis got here inside one possession, having returned from -18. Since then and after the defenses got here out, the ball was “resting” so much on Lesor, on account of which Panathinaikos as soon as once more took a double-digit lead (84-70 at 36').
The quarters: 20-28, 51-39, 71-60, 95-79.
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