By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos Athens coach Ergin Ataman criticized the referees of the game vs. Olympiacos Piraeus for two specific plays down the stretch.
“Everything happens in a game. I understand this,” Ataman said after Panathinaikos‘ I understand that referees allow Olympiacos to play hard and aggressive defense against our offensive players. OK, it can happen. This is homecourt advantage. But in a game where we lost with one basket. But when you check an instant reply who touched the ball and you don’t see who has the ball last. Everyone on TV saw that McKissic touched the ball.”
Ataman was commenting on a sequence that took place with 2:43 to play and Panathinaikos down 75 – 67 when he challenged a call by the referees to give Olympiacos the ball after a steal attempt by Shaq McKissic on Kostas Sloukas.
With 1:17 remaining, Moustapha Fall dunked the ball to make it 76 – 69 in a play where the Ataman and the rest of Panathinaikos bench protested for a travelling violation.
“The EuroLeague TV commentators also said that the ball is out from McKissic and you give the ball to Olympiacos,” Ataman added. “And then in the next possession, Fall scores with four maybe five steps. You don’t call that. You’re afraid to make that call. This is difficult for me to understand. These are three very good referees, very experienced referees. But we lost the game with one basket and these two possessions are ours. For sure, 100%.”
Panathinaikos had to play catch up with Olympiacos after falling behind 20 – 9 in the first period. Cedi Osman had all nine points of the Greens.
“We need to study this. When this happens? When we play on the road. And on the road there’s double the aggression against our scoring players, especially Kendrick Nunn. I understand this. You start aggressive, you continue aggressive. You get nervous. Also Jerian Grant didn’t use his shot. Cedi had the ball and made the shots. Of course we need to check this. But others also have to check it when they call like that in that atmosphere.”
Olympiacos even went up by 19 points in the third period before Panathinaikos made a comeback and approached 76 – 74 in the last minute. Kostas Sloukas misfired at the buzzer for Ataman’s team.
“I’m satisfied about the character the team,” Ataman mentioned. “This shows that this team will win the EuroLeague one more time.”