By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
The eight teams that will battle it out for a place in the final four are well known, but what is their background in this phase? How many times has each one managed to advance in a knockout order? Which ones have the longest winning streak and other knockout stories…
Eurohoops looks back and remembers all the knockout stages of qualification for the Final Four from 2004-05 onwards, when this particular system was established, since up to that point the four finalists had emerged directly from the Top 16. Up to the 2007-08 season, the qualification was granted in two wins, but since then it’s granted in three wins.
CSKA Moscow
The undefeated. CSKA Moscow has never been knocked out from a playoff series! They have taken part in the playoffs every year (except for the disastrous 2010-11 season), they always had the home advantage and got the qualification on every occasion in any way they could, either with a sweep, either with a 3-1, or either in the last ‘do or die’ game.
Panathinaikos
This year’s participation in the playoffs will be Panathinaikos’s ninth, having missed two in the 2007-08 and 2009-10 seasons. The Greens have qualified to the Final Four five times since the 2004-05 season and in four of them they had the home advantage, while they qualified in the 2010-11 season against Barcelona with a disadvantage. Also, Panathinaikos has been knocked out three times in total (the last two of those with a disadvantage and in 2006 by Tau when they did have a home advantage).