Panathinaikos: Managing the pressure, the key to the “green” comeback! | Blog – Giorgos Kouvaris

Giorgos Kouvaris writes about the defeat of Panathinaikos AKTOR by Maccabi in the first match of the play offs and after explaining that it is logical and inevitable that there will be disappointment, he “looks” at the next day and how the “greens” will be able to re-enter the claim qualification to the Final Four in Berlin.

Should I say I expected it? I will lie. I might have known that the Maccabi only an easy opponent would not be for him Panathinaikos in the order of play off but I thought that one way or another, easy or hard, in the end it would reach the victory and 1-0.

At the same time, and because Maccabi it is not… anyone and any opponent if one considers the athleticism and the form he was in before the OAKA match (but also… he is after the Game 1) a possible (if not the most likely) scenario would be “break” in the “break». That is, that AND Maccabi could beat him Panathinaikos (even in a crowded one) OAKA but AND that o Panathinaikos may be imposed on the permit “Stark Arena» of Belgrade next week.

The opportunity was lost, but not the series

After all, it is something that happened in the past and more specifically in the 2012 series, when the “greens” last went to Final Four and even they had imposed themselves in the then “hot” “Yad Eliau”. THEwhen… why should it not happen again? What do I mean by all this? That nothing is over yet. Nothing at all. Sta play off EVERYTHING happens and everything can change from one moment to the next and from one match to the next.

EVERY game in postseason her Euroleague it’s a completely different story. And whoever stays in the previous one pays dearly. Example; The play off of 2018, when the Panathinaikos he had made her a leaf and a wing Real in the Game 1 and after two days, not even… he had understood where it came from!

Certainly the Panathinaikos missed a valuable opportunity to open the scoring in the series and now we were talking from a different base. He could certainly be shedding the stress, the “musts” and escaping the enormous pressure that began to be exerted on the ranks of the team. Whoever says that the Panathinaikos he wasn’t the favorite and that he wouldn’t have given the biggest percentage to OAKA’s 2-0, then… he’s lying and he’s lying unabashedly! Now they started to… squeeze the milk.

The pressure was “heavier”, the “must” increased

I’m not saying his team will play with their backs against the wall Ataman. In no case. One could say that in the event of 0-2. Then yes. In such a case, not only will “run my legs” apply, but I find it very difficult (if not impossible) for the Panathinaikos to make the big upheaval.

But let’s not rush. Let’s stick to the two matches of OAKA. What should he do? Panathinaikos ahead of the second game on Thursday (25/4, 21:15)? He HAS to manage the pressure that has begun to build and the disappointment that – possibly – came after this defeat. Especially since the “MUST” of winning became much bigger than the Game 1. Now there is no room for any more losses.

There are players with performances to bring peace to the ranks of the team with first and best him Costa Sluka. You will tell me about the mistake at 13” before the end. First of all he is too experienced to take him down. HE is the one who will come forward as if nothing had happened in the previous 48 hours. We are talking about his one and only mistake, having handed out 13 assists throughout the previous match!

Do you understand what numbers we are talking about? You understand that he is the player who did everything right in his offense Panathinaikou? And should I tell you something? In the end, he does not have the full share of the responsibility Sloukas for the wrong pass. It is also the fault of his teammates who were looking at him and simply waiting for his decision. No movement was made, no help was received from anyone and in the end… what happened happened.

But in order for the match to get there and for O Panathinaikos to “hit” her Maccabi, everything started from his hands. He pounded her Maccabi at pick n roll with Sluka-Lesor but from one point on and especially in the last minutes, the “greens” stopped attacking in this way and paid for it.

Maccabi’s 15 missed rebounds, 10 missed shots and 19 foul points

From then on when a team finishes a match play off in Euroleague (s.s. and not… any and every game) having missed 10 shots and at the same time the opposing team has collected 15 offensive rebounds counting 17 more possessions, then it will be very difficult to reach the final victory.

Many, many defensive mistakes by him Panathinaikou. Both in team and individual defense. And all this with her players Maccabi to collect 15 offensive rebounds and get 19 points from the 12 mistakes of the “greens”. If it wasn’t for the excellent (for the longest duration of the match) percentages of the Greek team, I really don’t know how the game would have gone.

Of course, we must not forget that the Nan he was taken out of the race early. He fouled quickly, got frustrated, lost momentum, was between the bench and the floor too often and then couldn’t get back into rhythm. With a good one Nan, I don’t think the “greens” should be particularly worried. Out of climate (especially in defense) o Mitoglou, while the Juancho he had a good first half in rebounding but in the second half, whether he was on the floor or not, it was the same!

I don’t know if it was ultimately the excessive enthusiasm, the celebratory atmosphere and the feeling of “certain victory” that brought this image and by extension this result. Certainly the Panathinaikos presented himself unprepared and I hope that the lesson will have become a VERY GOOD lesson if it is to be … continued and after the end of play off. I insist and say. THE Panathinaikos remains the favorite and there should NOT be (although I understand and share) disappointment in the fan ranks. Until his jambol Game 2 my tongue will become hairy to say it and the keyboard will break down to write it. Nothing is finished. End of story.

The mind games of Ataman and the unprosecuted arbitration

And if nothing else, Ergin Ataman he knows very well how to manage such situations. And he was quick to prove it after the match. Wanting to show how much he believes in his team, he said that if and as long as Panathinaikos doesn’t go to Final Four, next year he will not be in the team. Big statement. But I don’t think it corresponds to reality. He just wanted to emphasize that “we will win the series and qualify for the Final Four».

He believes it and says it. He has done it before when in the Effects. He does it now. He also made a special reference to the refereeing of the match. Well, not without reason. Lots of mistakes, especially from Bolthauser. Perhaps to put it better, they were not whistling to the same extent. Not only did he not get the… spores Panathinaikos, but he also seemed to be a guest in his own house. There are several phases, but I consider it pointless to sit and analyze them one by one. The essence of the matter is being lost and the essence is that Panathinaikos has every reason to have complaints. In a word his overall refereeing Game 1 she was inexplicable. And I can’t understand the reason either.

Someone will say that it is no coincidence that Panathinaikos has 0/3 this year since Maccabi. I agree and augment. Losing to the same team three times in the same number of matches cannot be described as just a coincidence. As it seems, it is not a team that “matches” well on him, especially in the forwards. And if nothing else, Ataman he should sort it out. And immediately. Keep something else: The two worst refereeings that the Panathinaikos in this year’s Euroleague was in… two match matches with the Maccabi in OAKA. Just sayin’…