By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos Athens coach Ergin Ataman analyzed his decision to keep starting guard Lorenzo Brown on the bench during the game vs. Real Madrid after he substituted him 3:39 into the match.
“There was nothing wrong [with him],” Ataman said when asked if Brown had any physical problem. “He was on the starting lineup and unfortunately, he was in during the beginning of the game when we played very bad and went down 11 points.”
Brown went to the bench with Panathinaikos down 14-3, together with Dinos Mitoglou and Cedi Osman, never to come back in the game. The reigning champions still faced a couple of defensive problems that they fixed during the second period and then approached 43 – 41 at the beginning of the third quarter.
“Then we went with last year’s regular rotation, with Jerian Grant and Kostas Sloukas,” Ataman explained. “I didn’t want to put him [Brown] in the game again. I wanted to give more rhythm to Sloukas especially. He created a lot. Real Madrid did a great job with Abalde tonight, defensively and offensively. When they put too much pressure against Kendrick Nunn, we need Kostas Sloukas in that situation.”
Real pulled away with a 9 – 0 run and went on to build a 16-point advantage, 78 – 62, with 7:25 to play. Panathinaikos never recovered enough to become truly dangerous for the hosts despite Kendrick Nunn’s efforts (23 points, six assiss).
Sloukas finished with three points and five assists while Grant had three points and three assists.
Facu Campazzo led Real Madrid overall with 19 points, six assists and five rebounds.
“It’s difficult to play Sloukas and Lorenzo together – it’s very difficult defensively. It was a matter of choice, nothing wrong,” Ataman concluded.