The big time is now for Panathinaikos! His team Ergkin Ataman welcomes the Anadolu Efes At the crowded OAKA (21:30, Novasports Prime, Sport-fm.gr, BWINSPOR FM 94.6), for the first match between them in its playoffs Euroleagueaimed at the first step to qualifying in Final Four of Abu Dhabi.
The ‘Greens’ completed the normal period in third place of the standings, with a record of 22-12. As such, they crossed with the Turkish team, which made a demarage toward the Regular Season finale and managed not only to get into the tenbut to avoid the Play-ins.
Now, the Panathinaikos will search for the qualification in a second consecutive Final Fourtargeting the eighth “star”. Recall that the order is judged in three winswith the “clover” having the home advantage, and thus the “security” that if needed a fifth game, it will take place on its stadium. The second match, again at OAKAis scheduled for Thursday (24/04).
As for the two teams’ racing news, Panathinaikos cannot count on Matthias Lesor and Mary Grigoniswhile extremely doubtful is the John Papapetrou. For Efes, except for the whole order Rodrigwhile everyone else is normally available to Luca Banci.
The game was appointed to direct the Ilia Belosevic (Serbia), Medi Difala (France) and Artura Soukis (Lithuania).
The profile of Efes
What did it do in the normal period
OR Anadolu Efes completed the regular season with a record of 20-14 and finished in sixth position of the score. Her record could be much higher, but she “paid” the average start she made with Tomislav Miyatovic in its technical leadership. When the Croatian technician was “relegated” to an assistant and Luca Banci He took over the reins, immediately the Turkish club changed a completely racing face and began to progress.
It is characteristic that by the 26th race, the Efes She had a record of 12-14 and created doubts about her presence in the 10th. However, it followed a “demarcation” after defeating the eight last games against Alba, Virtu, Bayern, Partizan, Basconia, Maccabi, Red Star and Zalgirisand not only entered the postseason, but also escaped play-ins, securing a place in the six.
Obviously, the formation of the Turkish team is “worried” by many of his friends Panathinaicand it is reasonable. After all, it has been shown that at Euroleague He wins the one who plays his best basketball at the right time. However, there is a different reading.
In this ‘crazy’ series he did, the six out of eight wins came against groups that didn’t even get into the ten. The other two came against the ninth and tenth team of the table (Bayern, Red Star). In other words, none of these pink leaves came against a group from her “elite” Euroleague!
Of course, this does not underestimate her achievement Efesas every game in the top European competition is difficult, let alone win eight consecutive times. However, it is a given that the favorable program helped his team Luca Banci To make this very powerful finis and get huge psychology for continuity.
The star and the keys
Although its performance has fallen sharply due to several injuries, the Shaine Larkin remains her ‘go-to guy’ Efes. The 32 -year -old guard does not need recommendations, since he is one of the best players in the history of the Euroleague, and Ataman he knows this very well, since around him and his Vasilie Michic He built his “empire” in the Turkish team a few years ago.
The American with a Turkish passport is expected to take over More initiativesas he is known for his leadership abilities when the ball burns. THE Larkin scores or creates 21.3 points per game for his team (1st), and his own performance will be largely judged by his Efessince it is the undisputed leader of the Turks.
If Larkin is the “leader” then the … deputy commander is the Elieza Bryant. His former teammate Giannis Antetokounbos She has slowly and steadily evolved into one of Efes’ “pillars”, and is based on her most valuable player for this season so far. The 30 -year -old counts 14 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals on average and is first in evaluation to the Turkish team (15 ranking), also offering 21.3 points through scoring or final pass.
The “arsenal” in the Turkish region does not stop there, since there are still the excellent creator Darius Thompsonwho ‘makes’ over 1/4 of her points Efes When he is in the parquet but also the very athletic and effective shooter, Pi Jay Doserwhich played a big role last year in Partisan Zeljko Obradovic, so it’s not just a random player.
Forward is the clear weakness in his roster Luca Banci. In position ‘3’ the only reliable solution is the Jordan Noorawhich came with large “parchments” from the NBA but has not been expected so far. In position ‘4’ is dominated by Roofs Smitswho is talented but also ‘heavy’ enough to deal with the Huzano or Dino Mitoglou. The same applies to Erzan Osmaniwhich gives solutions to his long shot in the attack, but finds it difficult to respond to the defense, having slow legs.
Finally, the Efes seems to be advantageous to Panathinaic in the Maurus, at least with the current data of the absence of Matthias Lesor. The known to all Pingle It is an imposing presence on the racket, with which they will hardly be able to get the ‘soph’ to be able to get over. Omer Yurceven and the not so bodily Wenien Gambriel.
Behind the Frenchman, in fact, there is the Daniel Oturuan athletic and effective near the center basket, which is also the Best aggressive rebounder in the Euroleague, renewing the 16.7% of attacks When in the parquet! It remains to be seen what Ataman will be “carved” to face the given Panathinaikos deficit at the tall.
Prehistory
Panathinaikos and Efes count many years in Euroleaguehaving given a very large number of races between them at each possible phase of the event, except for the final!
Their most important matches took place in the first half of the 2000s. Indeed, both the 2000 as well as the 2001came to the semifinals Final Fourwith the “Greens” taking the qualification of both times (the second one in the juler) and winning the trophy the first of them.
A few years later, in 2005, Panathinaikos and Efes They have come for the first and last time to date in the playoffs, with the “green” smiling again. The “clover” prevailed 2-1 in a row and “laughed” the Turks’ path to the Final Four.
Since then, the two teams have never been confronted with matches with such a large stake as the Playoffs or the Final Four. After 20 years, therefore Panathinaikos and Efes They will again fight a very important “battle” with each other!
In detail the games:
25/11/1993: Panathinaikos-Ephragies 67-82 (semifinal round)
27/01/1994: Efes-Panathinaikos 68-59 (semifinal round)
22/10/1998: Panathinaikos-Ephragies 77-63 (first phase)
16/12/1998: Efes-Panathinaikos 53-80 (first phase)
18/04/2000: Panathinaikos-Ephi 81-71 (Final Four)
11/05/2001: Panathinaikos-Ephragies 74-66 (Final Four)
06/04/2005: Panathinaikos-Epho 102-96 (Play Offs)
08/04/2005: Efes-Panathinaikos 75-63 (Play Offs)
14/04/2005: Panathinaikos-Epho 84-76 (Play Offs)
08/03/2006: Panathinaikos-Ephs 73-76 (Top 16)
22/03/2006: Efes-Panathinaikos 56-66 (Top 16)
15/02/2007: Panathinaikos-Ephs 84-57 (Top 16)
08/03/2007: Efes-Panathinaikos 65-79 (Top 16)
13/02/2008: Efes-Panathinaikos 74-64 (Top 16)
06/03/2008: Panathinaikos-Ephs 74-65 (Top 16)
11/11/2010: Panathinaikos-Ephs 84-61 (normal period)
15/12/2010: Efes-Panathinaikos 79-78 (normal period)
03/01/2013: Efes-Panathinaikos 78-64 (Top 16)
14/03/2014 Efes-Panathinaikos 60-65 (Top 16)
12/02/2016 Panathinaikos-Effi 83-78 (Top 16)
07/04/2016 Efes-Panathinaikos 91-86 (Top 16)
04/11/2016 Efes-Panathinaikos 91-83 Pr. (Normal period)
13/01/2017 Panathinaikos-Effi 92-81 (Normal period)
16/11/2017 Efes-Panathinaikos 81-82 (normal period)
04/01/2018 Panathinaikos-Ephbs 90-79 (normal period)
16/11/2018 Efes-Panathinaikos 78-62 (normal period)
01/02/2019 Panathinaikos-Ephs 88-75 (normal period)
31/10/2019 Panathinaikos-Effi 86-70 (normal period)
13/11/2020 Panathinaikos-Ephbs 77-80 (normal period)
25/03/2021 Efes-Panathinaikos 85-65 (normal period)
27/10/2021 Panathinaikos-Primes 95-69 (normal period)
21/01/2022 Efes-Panathinaikos 82-81 (normal period)
23/12/2022 Efes-Panathinaikos 88-69 (normal period)
02/03/2023 Panathinaikos-Ephs 82-87 (normal period)
05/12/2023 Efes-Panathinaikos 71-68 (normal period)
09/01/2024 Panathinaikos-Effi 83-76 (normal period)
13/12/2024 Efes-Panathinaikos 93-67 (normal period)
06/02/2025 Panathinaikos-Epho 104-89 (normal period)
The roster of Efes
0. Larkin – G – 1.83m. – 31hr.
1. Rodring Bobua – G/F – 1.88m. – 36x. (injured)
3. Jordan Noora – F – 2.03m. – 26X.
6. Elijah Bryant – G/F – 1.96m. – 29X.
8. Salich Alundousa – C – 2.10m. – 18hr.
10. Ridvan Odcel – G – 1.91m. – 27hr.
11. Roland Smits – F/C – 2.08m. – 29X.
13. Darius Thompson – G – 1.93m. – 29X.
15. Jay Doser – G – 1.98m. – 28m.
17. Poirier benches – C – 2.13m. – 30X.
18. Dogs Ozdemiroglu – G – 1.91m. – 28kg.
19. Burak Chan Yildizli – F – 2.03m. – 30X.
24. Erjan Osmani – C – 2.13m. – 26X.
25. Daniel Otourou – C – 2.03m. – 24hr.
33. Erkan Yilmaz – F – 1.96m. – 26X.
35. Derek Will – F – 2.06m. – 29X.
Coach: Luca Banci
Source: Sport Fm
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