By Antonis Stroggylakis / info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos coach Rick Pitino wasn’t particularly happy with the defeat on the road to Valencia and appeared especially displeased with how his team’s defense allowed the Spanish squad scoring 94 points on 14 3-pointers.
“We guarded the 3-point with our lives as if we’re going to die tomorrow. Now, we guard the 3-point line, as if we’re going to the Mardi Gras,” Pitino said in a post-game presser while making a comparison of Panathinaikos to the defense of the teams he led to seven NCAA Final Fours and two titles.
“I’ve been lucky enough to coach in seven Final Fours. Every one of those teams was built for defense,” Pitino had mentioned. “But they scored a lot of points. Because they scored off the defense. We forced 21 turnovers per game, we made the other team shoot with a low percentage so we got out on the fast break.”
Panathinaikos allows more 3-pointers than any other team in EuroLeague this season. The “Greens'” opponents register 10.9 triples per game in 22 matches so far.
Pitino was also asked if the presence of several former NCAA players on the roster of Panathinaikos makes it easier for him to establish his philosophy and brand of basketball. “I don’t think the NCAA helps you too much with EuroLeague basketball. I think some of the guys were well coached. Nick Calathes was coached by Billy Donovan. Papapetrou was coached by Rick Barnes. I don’t think that this transcends to something positive or negative. I do think that this type of seasoning is good for the players,” the Hall of Fame coach said.