Panathinaikos – CSKA 74-98: A night he wants to forget …

The night was very difficult from the start (ss: given the almost two-week abstinence from training due to coronavirus), but it became … a mountain. Panathinaikos OPAP failed to disturb CSKA Moscow (except for eight minutes). In addition, he saw Dimitris Itoudis’s players do what they wanted for most of the game, resulting in another major defeat that season (98-74).

The greens lasted until the 8th minute of play before suffering an unprecedented blackout that lasted seven and a half minutes and resulted in 23 (!) Unanswered points. Fatally, the game took on a procedural character from the middle of the second period, with the hosts only interested in limiting the defeat.

O MVP

Daniel Hackett has played so well for a long time, at least when it comes to the manager. The 34-year-old CSKA Moscow man was the one who did the most damage to the Greek defense during the Russian domination in the second ten minutes, punishing the hosts for every shot they gave him. The result was to finish the game on 17 points, with 2/3 two points, 4/6 three points and 1/1 shot on 22’28 ” which was on the ground. He also filled his statistics with 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block and thus collected 26 points in the EuroLeague rating system.

The weak link

On a night like this, it is not easy for Panathinaikos OPAP to pick a player who did not bid. Quite simply because everyone was far behind and far from what they can really give the clover.

The statistics that stood out

The percentages of guests in the threesome were impressive from a young age. Dimitris Itoudis’s players had 14/23 threes up to the 30th minute (efficiency only declined in the last third), with 7/9 accurate threesomes in the second half being the most typical example of the certainty with which they shot out of the game have the 6μ75.

The race

Despite the long absence of both teams, the game had a very good pace in the first few minutes. Panathinaikos OPAP had no problem with the pace Dimitris Itoudis’s players were trying to achieve, with Ioannis Papapetrou pulling the offensive strings and all the greens playing quite well.

However, the +3 (20-17) of the game’s 8 ‘was followed by an unprecedented blackout. Panathinaikos OPAP went seven and a half minutes without a point, while CSKA Moscow scored three points after another. With Daniel Hackett (4/5 threes at halftime) and Marius Grigonis in the role of the frontrunner from the periphery, the guests – finally – pressed the accelerator and shot the difference to +25 (26-51) in the 17th minute.

As it should be, it got too difficult somewhere for the clover, who went into the changing room with the -27 (33-60) of the break. By the way, CSKA Moscow finished the first part with 11/18 three points (61.1%), but also 15 assists – while Panathinaikos OPAP had 12/30 inside the child and 8 assists for 7 mistakes.

With the difference so blatant, it was clear that the most important thing for the greens from there and beyond was not to – for good – evade the situation. That said, not bringing the Russian leadership to a level that would add the night to the blacks of the team’s history.

Beyond -30 (41-71 in 26 ‘), however, there was nothing worse for Dimitris Priftis’ team. The guests let their foot off the gas, Dimitris Itoudis opened the rotation a lot and somehow the greens found a way (but also the reason) to reduce it. Not at a level that would allow them to smile, but no matter how we do it, at least not at a level that would bring back even worse memories.

CSKA Moscow took the win (98-74) and improved their psychology, unlike Panathinaiko’s OPAP, who added another disappointing performance to his net worth this year.

THE REFEREES: Ritzik – Mughalkots – Petek.

THE TEN MINUTES: 20-26, 33-60, 55-77, 74-98.

PANATHINAIKOS OPAP (Priftis): Peri 15 (3/3 three points), Meikon 11 (0/4 three points), Papagiannis 9 (4 rebounds), Bohoridis (0/3 two points), Kavvadas, Papapetrou 16 (7/9 two points , 0/3 three points, 2/2 shots, 4 assists, 3 errors), White 6, Abdalas, Nedovic 3 (1), Evans 5 (1 three points, 5 rebounds), Sand Ross 9 (6 assists).

CSKA MOSCOW (Itoudis): Ludberg 8 (2), Boloboi 8 (8 rebounds), Homenko 3, Uhoff 7 (2), Hackett 17 (4/6 3-pointers, 5 rebounds, 6 assists), Antonov 2, Vogtman 5 (1 / 4 three points, 5 rebounds), Sengelia 16 (1), Milutinov 2 (5 rebounds), Grigonis 19 (4/8 three points), Kurbanov 5 (1), Svend 6 (2).

Team Statistics – Panathinaikos OPAP: 22/41 two points, 5/17 three points, 15/18 shots, 23 rebounds (18 defensive + 5 offensive) 15 assists, 7 steals, 11 errors, 1 block.

Group stats – CSKA Moscow: 19/34 two points, 17/34 three points, 9/10 shots, 35 rebounds (25 defensive + 10 offensive), 24 assists, 6 steals, 12 mistakes, 4 blocks.

The teams’ next commitments: Panathinaikos OPAP Maccabi Tel Aviv (January 14th, 9:00 pm) will receive two nights, while CSKA Moscow will return to the MegaSport Arena to face Villeurbanne (January 14th, 7:00 pm).