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.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid is the ultimate home advantage team. The last ten years they have advanced to the playoffs six times in total, three of them (the last three) with a home advantage and the other three without one. The Madrilenos then, advanced when they had the advantage and were knocked out when they didn’t. This year, they’ll have home advantage. Will they preserve their tradition?
Anadolu Efes
This will be Efes Anadolu’s fourth attempt to get into the Final Four through knock out matches since 2004-05. The Turks tried in the first two seasons but were knocked out by Panathinaikos and CSKA, while they advanced to the quarterfinals in the 2012-13 season, but were knocked out the year before last by Olympiacos with 3-2. Efes did not have the home advantage in any of these cases.