We return to the pitch in Oaka for the second chapter of the match between Panathinaikos and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Our Injury report confirms the absence of Juancho for the greens and also Baldwin (15 points and 7 assists in game 1) given in Game Time decision will not be of the match.
In his pre-match words Kattash warned his team against a certain Greek reaction but the theme of the pre-match is certainly a side one Greek with the words of Ataman and the statement of the Hellenic society.
Let’s leave aside the controversies and speeches and focus on the facts and analyze race 2.
The match
Cohen opens the ball for Maccabi with 2 consecutive triples while Ataman’s big men produce for the home team.
Israelis who don’t change their idea of the game one iota, trying to attack in the first seconds of the action and again Cohen who after 5 minutes is already at 10 points, well served by Brown. For Panathinaikos the inside-out door Mitoglu to crush and release Nunn at the arc for the first lead of the game 14-12.
The match moves at a frenetic pace and a 7-0 partial score by Maccabi puts the Israelis back in the lead and with the idea of maintaining firm control over the pace and inertia of the match. All the men sent onto the field by coach Kattash contribute to the cause, Nebo, Colson, Webb III, Rivero partial which increases to 13 to 2 and yellow and blue with their hands firmly on the wheel. Sloukas And Vildoza with 4 consecutive points they bring the hosts closer but the triple at the end of Rivero closes the quarter 20 – 28.
II Quarter
Second Half which sees the hosts more present thanks to the increase in engine speed of the Greek guards. Sloukas And Vildoza they get their hands on the game and the away team’s lead dwindles.
The defence greens he doesn’t allow easy plays for Maccabi, countering every play and inflaming OAKA which is now a crazy bedlam but the score always says +5 for the team ahead in the series.
The match has a crazy intensity with many possessions that are resolved only at the end of the 24″ and in one of these Sloukas hits the triple that brings Pana back to -1. The Palazzetto is a generator of incredible energy and also from home you can feel the electricity of the atmosphere which ignites further when the number 10 in the green tank top scores the equalizing triple and forces Kattash at time out.
New Triple of Sloukas (15 points at halftime) and unsportsmanlike a Nebo away from the ball translates into an 8 to 0 (triple of Papapetrou) in 30″ for the hosts. Lessor he makes a 3-point play in the next play and Maccabi is on the ropes under the blows of Panathinaikos and its fans and sinks to -11 with an open run of 19-2. At the interval it is 51 – 39.
III Quarter
The inertia does not change and only one team is on the field upon return with the home team determined to close the match and bring the series back to parity. Maccabi struggling to achieve, the absence of Baldwin he makes himself felt to be able to create from the dribble, Brown he is tight in Pana’s defense as the number 1 public danger, he scores the first 7 points of the quarter for the yellow and blue.
Kattash attempts a zone card match ups to slow down the home team’s attack and succeeds for a couple of possessions but Sloukas he was having a champion’s evening and was unstoppable for the Israeli guards, 22 points with 10 minutes still to play. Tamir Blatt And Cleveland they try to relaunch the guests but the siren fails 71 – 60.
IV Quarter
Dunk by Cleveland and 4 points of Rivero and Maccabi in a partial of 10 to 0 gets back to -5 again, forcing Ataman to time out.
Cleveland now it’s a factor, Sloukas he is forced to return early despite the 4 fouls and places the jumper. Ataman chooses to attack the exchange on the PnR with Lessor paired with the US guard with his back to the basket. The number 26 is the dynamo that keeps the lights on for him and the brakes to stem the guest’s comeback attempt. The triple of Papapetroua factor in the match, brings his team back to +12.
Lorenzo Brown now he’s alone on an island, Sloukas scores the layup and Grant he hits the triple, it’s +15 again for the Athenians and with less than 2 minutes to play the closing credits can be glimpsed. Pana doesn’t slow down with the intention of sending a clear message to their opponents. At the mermaid it is 95 to 79.
Panathinaikos: Sloukas master of Oaka
We expected a response on the field after the social match and if in the first quarter Panathinaikos seemed to be at the mercy of Maccabi, in the second 10 minutes guided by the talent of their captain in an evening as an absolute champion they took control of the match, managing the pace and emotion.
Sloukas he says 29 points and 2 turnovers only in the last minutes to which are added the 15 of a fundamental one Papapetrou and the 11th of Lessor arrived at the decisive moment of the match with the Israelis desperately seeking a comeback.
Nunn scores 10 points but seemed completely removed from the game, after an impressive regular season we definitely expect more from the American winger
Maccabi: Brown alone is not enough
The Israelis are unable to repeat the success of game 1. Without Wade Baldwin control of the race lasts only 10′ with Cohen a big factor in starting. Then the release of Panathinaikos’ wingers and Oaka’s energy did the rest. Cleveland And Rivero they try to launch an unexpected comeback that reaches -5 and is stopped by the energy of Lessor. Brown he plays an 18-point game without major forcing but the absence of another threat on the perimeter allows the defense to concentrate totally on the naturalized Spaniard.
Stats: Euroleague
