By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Losing in Game 1 of the EuroLeague Playoffs, Panathinaikos now needs to bounce back in Game 2 against Maccabi Tel Aviv in OAKA to not find itself in a complicated position on the road to the Final Four.
After his resounding quotes in the post-game flash interview and press conference, Ergin Ataman continued to question calls from referees in the game against the Israeli powerhouse. “This game for me is not clear, and I’d like to show some possession”, he opened.
First off, he showed a three-point attempt from Wade Baldwin with 3:14 minutes on the clock when he was awarded three free throws, asking for flopping. Later on, he also showed plays asking for an offensive foul from Jasiel Rivero and a foul on Luca Vildoza while shooting from three in the second.
In Maccabi‘s best scoring run between the third and fourth quarter, Ergin Ataman emphasized two other situations. At 3:49 left in the third, asking for an offensive foul by Antonius Cleveland, and at 9:24 on the clock in the fourth, when Wade Baldwin IV was awarded once again three free throws in the act of shooting.
“What happened for this calls for me that’s clear. 1-0, no problem. We controlled the game, but with these ridiculous calls and our mistakes at the free-throw line, we lost the game. Nothing important, we will the game and the series”, he added.
Juancho Hernangomez won’t play in Game 2
Suffering from a muscle spasm in his left calf, Juancho Hernangomez won’t officially play in Game 2 after injuring himself in the series opener against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The Spanish forward underwent tests today and can’t be available for Panathinaikos‘ attempt of revenge against the Israeli yellow-and-blue team.
He may not be the only one missing the clash, as Wade Baldwin IV suffered a hamstring injury.