Panathinaikos: Daryl Makon holds the keys to balance

In the 23’53” he was floored against Real Madrid, Daryl Makon managed to show his best and his worst face. Or, if you prefer, to condense this year’s entire picture in a short amount of time. The 27-year-old guard had 0/4 shots and 1 assist until the final of the third period and was part of the problem for Panathinaikos OPAP up to that point. However, he was at his best in the last period.

The numbers explain the above, because in ten minutes 15 of the 28 points of the greens came out of his hands. To be even more precise in the timeframe, this is 15/19 points that Panathinaikos OPAP scored from the moment Real Madrid approached -5 (61-56 at 9’20”) to the point where the +11 resulted (80 -69 at 2’56”).

Usually coming either directly (9 points) or indirectly (6 points from assists) – from own decisions – the points that kept Panathinaikos OPAP alive and gave an extra boost to lead to their first victory over the “Queen” in four years, in the last home game for the EuroLeague this season.

The prize of the rookie season

The wild swings in performance (even within forty minutes) is certainly not an unprecedented phenomenon for Daryl Macon, who is paying to spend the first season of his career as a EuroLeague player. So fatal, some things are inevitable. Not just for him, but for any player crossing the threshold of Europe’s top-flight club-to-club competition and expecting to become an integral part of it.

The examples from the (recent) past in the EuroLeague are numerous and show that the most important thing in such cases is the patience in the part of the assessment for the skills and the “stamina” (in and out of the quotas) of each player. Perhaps the most striking examples of this are Wade Baldwin and Jordan Lloyd, who lived in Olympiacos and Valencia as rookies without much appreciation.

But now her position in the organization is clear and she argues that hasty crises can turn out to be wrong – for everyone.

The tweener of a distressed region

On top of that, one shouldn’t overlook the fact that Daryl Makon was summoned to enter a “form” in a possibly more violent manner (sic) than that calculated by Dimitris Priftis. Nemanja Nedovic’s line-up, delayed by about a month, and Kendrick Perry’s inability to serve as the commander the 53-year-old coach had hoped for, put the former AEK player in the position of missing the time between “1” and “” 2″ to meet the need.

With the obligation to carry the team, sometimes as its main creator and sometimes as its main executor. Accordingly, the resulting commitment to a high level of performance, so that the ship does not go off course before 1/3 of the season. He largely succeeded in that, showing that he has a place in the EuroLeague and deserves a key role in Panathinaikos OPAP’s rotation.

The truth is that his attributes make him a player with the “Tweener” label, as he plays almost half point guard and half shooting guard. With the corresponding risk and consequences for a player who, until last year, worked almost exclusively with instinct and the psychology of the moment.

But let’s not forget this: Daryl Makon currently leads Panathinaiko’s OPAP in assists/errors (with 1.76) in the EuroLeague, ahead of Howard Sand Ross (1.59) and Nemanja Nedovic (1.52). This puts him – again among the short ones – with the best true shooting percentage in the event at 64.8%.

The solution is in OAKA

In the case of a team that has “suffered” a lot in the short section in the last two years, their own record can change the data. Especially since Stefan Jovic has been in the “box” for a month and a half since the day the adductor fracture occurred. After all, the green wallet isn’t full or capable of attracting a player to OAKA, which will make an instant impact. Somehow, Dimitris Priftis is aware that only those who are currently in the dressing room can be approached and invested in the best possible final.

Usually, the solution to the problem Panathinaikos OPAP has been creating since the beginning of the season lies inside him in one way or another. Daryl Macon is an important part of the change needed to bring back the euphoria within the shamrock. The 26-year-old custodian’s bright side, as he appeared at Real Madrid in the last spell, can take a beating required balance in the periphery and increase the sources of danger/concern for the opponent.

In this case for Olympiakos, who is a contender for the champions’ scepter in the Stoiximan Basket League.