It’s Panathinaikos and they’re fine (and so is Jovic)

“With four wins in 19 games, he could have screamed after the easy win over Basconia.”I’m Panathinaikos and I’m fineThe Greens have been addicted to defeats in the first half of the year, with a string of disappointing performances and poor results appearing to be recovering from a severe European lethargy and the season abroad may be long lost. However, in games like this one against the Basques, he can win with confidence and prepare for fights in domestic competitions.

And it’s not like they prevailed against Baskonia, with the latter difference flattering the visitors (the difference was close to 30 points at times). Panathinaikos comes off a great performance in Istanbul (lost in Daniel Moerman’s last shot, against Efes) seems to be finding roles, playing chemistry and mostly basketball.

Even without… much training (due to the bad weather that blocked all roads outside of OAKA), even with the absence of Daryl Macon Jr. and George Papagiannis, two key players of this year of the “green” team, improving in all parts of the game , on both sides of the square is evident. The 23 assists (a record for this year), the 11 errors and overall excellent defense for most of the game are the proof.

Indeed, if Stefan Jovic continues as he started in his first appointment for an official match almost a year after his last (21/01/2021, coincidentally against Panathinaikos, wearing the Khimki jersey), then the Greens can be optimistic being. as their coach said right after the match, after finally finding the home guard they were looking for… since last year: “He’s a thoroughbred ‘ace’, he wants a few games and I think we’ll be a great duo,” commented Nemanja Nedovic, by far the top of PAO and this time.

He found Baskonia “barefoot”

The truth is that a state of emergency team was found before him. The team of Spahia (this year second coach after Ivanovic) recorded the third consecutive defeat in the Euroleague after those against Real (in Madrid) and especially Bayern (in Vitoria). This was her 14th loss in 21 games in a difficult year as she will battle for Copa del Rey qualification in the ACB. At the moment she has a record of 10-8 and is in 6th place, but behind her are Valencia (9-6) and Tenerife (9-7), who are respectively two and one games behind. We remind you that in the final stages of the Spanish Cup, the top eight in the standings pass.

Your problems in the last 10 days all came together.

Alec Peters, who has just returned from injury (had not played at all this year), has contracted the coronavirus. The same applies to the Lithuanian transmission kerskis (but also the Latvian kouruks). However, the heaviest loss came before the game when Matthew Costello was injured and unable to offer his services.

Basconia was tragic. It started with… 0/13 three-pointers, many of which were unmarked, but they constantly found the iron. There was no way Panathinaikos needed to open up his closed defence, he stole several balls and although he was theoretically at a disadvantage against the raw Inok, his problems in the racquet were minimal.

The energy that the Priftis team got out, at least in the first thirty minutes, made up Baskonia. He didn’t want… much. When the opponents touched PAO’s basket (in the fourth period), it was all over. And the untrained hosts were left behind by forces …

Jovic in good condition

Of course, all eyes were on Stefan Jovic, who played for almost 20 minutes: “We may have taken a risk,” said Priftis, who perhaps wanted to use the Serb less. But such a match was a chance for a new team. He wants a match on his legs to make up ground he lost a year ago.

Jovic did nothing unreal. He didn’t let go of his eyes. However, he was calm, correct in the organization of the game, with three assists and two accurate threes, the second actually at the only point where Baskonia theoretically threatened Panathinaikos. The 11-0 streak had reduced the difference to 13 points (70-57) and the Serb scored which made his mark.

Given his proportions and long absence from the field, Jovic appeared to be in excellent shape and Panathinaikos appear to have corrected any spelling mistakes earlier this year. He has a regular Ace, two excellent goalscorers (Nedovic-Makon), a very good defender (Sant Ross) who also plays in 3 and Lefteris Bohoridis who is taking his time and retaliating lately

Roles bring chemistry

Team chemistry requires roles. Priftis has struggled a lot and seems to have found the end of the road. Vassilis Kavvadas, who has played little until recently (logically given that he is the third centre-back), has also found an opportunity to earn applause now that Papagiannis is absent.

It was (and is) not an easy year for PAO. Don’t forget that he has lost 15 of the 20 European games he has given so far, a record inversely proportional to the history and name of the Greek team. If he can really do some good through the first-round ruins to raise his head in the 14 games he has to finish, we’ll see it in a tougher game than Thursday.

But we said. Through the process of a lost year in Euroleague, Panathinaikos will play all the remaining games without stress, knowing that the victories will boost his morale and keep him successful in the main goals since the season has been marked: Championship and Cup in Greece.. .