Panathinaikos – Real Madrid 87-86: Sweet is the final taste in OAKA with a win over ‘Vassilisa’ after 4 years

The picture of Real Madrid in the last home game for Panathinaikos OPAP of 2021/22 was diametrically opposed to that of the last two months. The energy in defense was exuberant, the attacking decisions were mostly correct and somehow the first win against Armani Milano came about, which Olympiakos can now get after almost four years at the last minute (87:86).

You see, the shamrock managed to get their way over the Spanish team for the first time since April 17, 2018 (then in the first game of the playoffs). Since then, thirteen (13) consecutive wins of Pablo Lasso’s team followed, but a streak that ended due to the great performance of George Papagiannis (18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks) and the action of Nemanja Nedovic (13 points, 6 assists). ) – Ioannis Papapetrou (15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists).

Aside from that, it’s worth noting the offers of Daryl Macon (in Q4) and Jeremy Evans (in Q3) who acted as “X-Factors” where Real Madrid looked poised to topple OAKA.

Incidentally, that was the seventh loss in their last nine games for Real Madrid, who are now slipping away from second place in the regular season as both Armani Milano and Olympiakos are poised to snatch last place!

The MVP

From the start it seemed like this was George Papagiannis night! The international center did an excellent job defending from the first Spanish possessions, racking up rebound after rebound and never letting Eddie Tavares feel good at any point in the game. The effect he had on the game of the greens and then on the victory over the Spanish team is reflected in the statistics: 18 points (on 9/11 two points and 0/1 shot), 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 5 blocks at 31′ 56”

The weak link

Nigel Williams-Goss has failed to “catch even” with the rest of the team, not performing at the level everyone expected. The same thing happened again in OAKA, where he started in the top five but again had a short participation time. Specifically, he pressed 6’43” to the ground without scoring (0/3 two points).

The stat that stood out

Real Madrid renewed 13 possessions, with Eddie Tavares grabbing 8 of those offensive rebounds. However, 62.5% of Panathinaikos OPAP in the two points and only 5 penalties was enough for the greens.

The race

Real Madrid scored from a layup in the game’s first two possessions, but then Panathinaikos OPAP’s defense gave them a hard time. While Giorgos Papagiannis did everything in the air, Dimitris Priftis’ team kept the “queen” without a basket for almost seven minutes (ss: had 0/11 shots and 2 penalties during this period) with the result of +11 (18-7 in 7 ‘) the host.

The image of the greens on both sides of the floor was still significantly better than the seasonal average, so the lead did not change. Real Madrid then put a lot of pressure on the offensive rebound, capitalizing on the size of Eddie Tavares and finding a way to close the gap (31-25 in 16′), at a point where Panathinaikos OPAP face an offensive move seemed problem.

Five quick points in seconds was the solution, however, as they put an end to the Spanish counterattack and led to +9 (41-32) at half-time, with Nemanja Nedovic on 11 points and Giorgos Papagiannis overtaking to fill his Stats with 10 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks.

Real Madrid increased possession in the third quarter, switched to attacking (faster) but couldn’t immediately close the gap. Although Eddie Tavares was great on both sides of the floor (he had 12 points and 11 rebounds in 28 minutes). Panathinaikos OPAP stayed ahead and reached +12 (51-39 in 24′), but the bad offensive decisions from 26′ to 29′ were enough to give the Spanish team the confidence they needed. With more consistency in the rim shot, Real Madrid got within range (56-54 in 29′), but Ioannis Papapetrou’s three in the season finale left the greens in sight of the +5 (59-54) of the last ten minutes.

As time went on, the guests pushed, trying to spoil the corners of the pass on the border, leading every green shot into defense. They often did, but Daryl Macon’s “madness” kept Panathinaiko’s OPAP going. The 26-year-old guard was absent until the 30th minute (he had 0/4 shots) but at the point where his team seemed bogged down in attack and leaving options open, he made a step forward. He scored 9 points (on 2/3 shots and 4/4 shots) for about three minutes and somehow managed the +13 (76-63) by the 35th minute.

That’s it! No matter how hard he tried, Real Madrid could not achieve the topple, with the +1 (87-86) of Panathinaikos OPAP’s ultimate dominance being the result of a three-point game by the Spanish team in the final. Somehow the win ended in Dimitris Priftis’ team, a win that was unexpected not least given the image the Greens have had over the past month and a half.

THE REFEREES: Boltauser – Latisevs – Mogulkots.

THE TEN MINUTES: 22-11 41-32, 59-54, 87-86.

PANATHINAIKUS OPAP (Priftis): Meikon 9 (1/5 two points, 1/2 three points, 4/4 shots, 4 assists), Papagiannis 18 (9/11 two points, 0/1 shot, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 blocks ). ), Kavvadas 4, Papapetrou 15 (5/8 two points, 1/7 three points, 2/3 shots, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal), Kaselakis 3, Nedovic 13 (3/8 three points, 6 assists) , Evans 13 (3/5 two points, 2/2 three points, 1/2 shots), Mantzoukas 3 (1), Sant Ross 9 (1 three points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists).

real Madrid (Lasso): Williams – Goss (0/3 two points), Koser 2, Hertel 18 (2/4 two points, 4/4 three points, 2/2 shots, 4 rebounds), Fernandez 9 (3/4 three points ). , 4 rebounds, 6 assists), Deck 12 (2), Poirier 6 (3/5 two points), Tavares 12 (5/11 two points, 2/4 shots, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block) , July 15 (3/8 threes, 5 assists), Yaboussele (0/3 shots, 6 rebounds), Tombkins 8 (2), Taylor 4 (0/3 threes).

Team Stats – Panathinaikos OPAP: 25/40 two points, 9/22 three points, 10/14 shots, 23 rebounds (20 defensive + 3 offensive), 18 assists, 2 steals, 5 errors, 5 blocks.

Team Stats – Real Madrid: 19/40 two points, 14/28 three points, 6/8 shots, 39 rebounds (26 defensive + 13 offensive), 17 assists, 4 steals, 11 errors, 2 blocks.

The next commitments of the two teams: Panathinaikos OPAP closes the regular season with two away games against Alba Berlin (April 6, 21:00) and Fenerbahce (April 8, 20:00). Real Madrid, for their part, have to play Bayern Munich in the WiZink Center (April 8, 9:45 p.m.).