Panathinaikos AKTOR – Maccabi: Brown’s 44 points, Baldwin, the formation that overturned the match and the defensive wounds of the “greens”

THE Panathinaikos AKTOR he didn’t make it in Game 1 of the series with Maccabi and lost 87-91 at OAKAlosing home advantage.

The SPORT24 analyzes with the help of Hudl Instat the defeat of the “greens”.

The 44 points of Brown – Baldwin and the match that went as Maccabi wanted

In the analysis of Maccabi’s profile it had become clear that Panathinaikos AKTOR had three main goals before Game 1 with Maccabi: 1. To limit – as much as possible – the action of Brown, Baldwin. 2. Not to let Maccabi run (2nd team in EuroLeague in transition). 3. Not allowing the Israelis to get offensive rebounds (best team in the EuroLeague at this). The end of the match found the “greens” not having achieved any of the three. Here’s the proof:

1. According to Hudl Instat, Brown (16 points and 4 assists, which added 10 points) and Baldwin (15 points and 7 assists, which added 18 points) were responsible for 44 of Maccabi’s 91 points (not for 49 , after each gave an assist to the other). And all this with Baldwin not even playing in the last 8 minutes due to injury.

2. Maccabi grabbed a total of 15 offensive rebounds from which they scored 12 points, while attempting a total of 14 more shots (70 vs. 56).

3. The Israelis scored a surprising 13 points on 8 possessions (and conceded just 5 on 5 possessions).

In a few words: Maccabi played their game. The match went at the tempo he wanted, increased the possessions, troubled Panathinaikos AKTOR, who was unable to limit any of the three elements that characterize the Israelis.

The Colson-Rivero arrangement has had ups and downs

It is a fact that Panathinaikos AKTOR was seduced by the pace of Maccabi. Even so, he was in control for much of the match. He escaped by double digits. But that all changed in the 4th quarter, when Oded Katas decided to play his final card: A two-point guard scheme (Blatt and Baldwin, with Brown taking the No. 2 spot when he was injured), a defensive destroyer (Cleveland) and Colson-Rivero in the top positions. It was the formation that turned the match upside down.

According to Hudl Insat, Maccabi battled for 4 minutes and 40 seconds with Colson and Rivero in the high post (they were together for 38 seconds at the end of the 4th period). In that time he had a total of +11 in the +/- system. And Colson (18 points) played a big part in that.

*The correct shots are marked with a circle, the missed shots with an “x”.

Colson got all the attention in this scheme, which makes sense considering he was the guy who made the big shots in the fourth quarter, either coming off screens or even playing the Pick and Roll. In fact, he was the one who scored the big basket for 77-78, in a phase that seemed to have been pre-planned by Maccabi. Here it is:

Brown brings the ball down and signals to Rivero for the system. Coulson follows, several yards behind.

Brown takes the screen with Mitoglou following him, giving Coulson some space.

Colson takes the ball, with Rivero preparing to screen him and Mitoglou running to cover him. Coulson will go against the screen.

Coulson hits a three-pointer.

However, Rivero was equally important. The tall Cuban had +12 in the +/- system (the best among his teammates), while with him on the floor, Maccabi conceded just 0.85 points per possession. Simply put, he was the one who tied up the Israeli defense on a night when Josh Niebo was negative on both ends of the floor.

The Colson-Rivero duo was versatile. He had better distances. He created problems for Panathinaikos AKTOR. Maccabi had found free shots earlier in the match. But with the exception of Cohen, no other player had been able to do damage from the perimeter from the power forward position. But Coulson did. He hit two huge threes, pulling Mitoglou away from the racket, forcing Ergin Ataman to throw Hernangomet into the match. But the match was now a derby.

In the end, everything was decided in one shot. Maccabi got theirs with Brown. Panathinaikos AKTOR made a wrong pass with Kostas Sloukas. But when a match goes to one phase, then anything is possible. The point was it never got there.

Panathinaikos AKTOR lost a match where he shot better, but…

According to Hudl Instat, Maccabi is a team that defends poorly in the Pick and Roll (2nd worst in points per possession with 1.06 passive), but also in the Post (0.88 per possession – 4th worst). Panathinaikos AKTOR did beat her there. He scored a total of 25 points in the Pick and Roll situation (15 short and 10 long) and 7 points in the Post. He scored 21 points (on 18 possessions, so 1.17 per possession) in Spot Up situations (shooting from a stop).

The “clover” scored 1.1 points per possession in an improbable number and conceded 1.04 points per possession. It saw Sluka account for 42 points (12 of his own and another 30 off his 13 assists). Lesor to dominate with 22 points. With these numbers, in theory, he should have won. But he lost. What don’t these numbers say? That the “greens” had 50 points in the first half with outrageous percentages (11/11 two-pointers and 8/16 three-pointers), but only 37 in the second (11/19 two-pointers, 1/10 three-pointers). They don’t say that the “green” had 1/8 three-pointers in Catch and Shoot situations in the second half (while they had 6/9 in the first). And they don’t mention Maccabi’s 14 more attacks. Not even in the total of 91 points he conceded.

Panathinaikos AKTOR was productive. In the second part, however, he was trapped. Maccabi’s choice to punctuate the Pick and Roll from the 2nd period onwards gave Lessor the opportunity to score consistently. The “greens” were constantly – and correctly – looking for the miss-match near the basket. Gradually, however, Panathinaikos entered a quicksand offensively. Maccabi took the “cloverleaf” shooters out of the equation, “froze” them, cut off the ball’s circulation. She was willing to live with Lesor’s points if it didn’t set the pace for the “green” regionals. And he was justified.

Game 2 is another game

Panathinaikos AKTOR entered the Maccabi game. Follow her pace. And, in the end, he paid the price. Many things could be mentioned that could be done differently. To Nan’s quick fouls that took him out of rhythm. In Grant’s unavailability due to his injury. On 4/11 Lessor shots. On missed defensive rebounds. In some difficult shots by Maccabi. But there is no point in dwelling on them any longer.

The “greens” have no room for any more mistakes. Game 2 will be different from Game 1. But Panathinaikos AKTOR knows what to do. As he knew it before Game 1. The “clover” must follow his plan, limit Maccabi’s actions and do the right things in the attack. If he doesn’t do all of this, then he’ll be in even more trouble.