By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
One of the most pleasant surprises in this season’s Euroleague is up for a transcendence, of sorts, against a team that was built in order to reach the Final Four and return to glory.
In the now infamous “Group Of Death”, Laboral Kutxa didn’t only manage to finish second, but accomplished it in the game which was previous to last. Not a small feat mind you. The Basques completed the Top 16 with a 9 – 5 record, winning five games in a row in the mid of the road. They walked this path of victories by performing basketball that was equally substantial and fun to watch, mostly playing in high tempo thanks to their large pools of energy and great amounts of stamina, but always with some strong principals backing their game.
When coach Perasovic‘s players lit the first match-stick, then usually their fire goes out of control. They can make all the shots, complete fast as lightning combinations and be, more or less, unstoppable. That’s what they want to do in this playoff series, against an opponent that prefers to attack in half court offenses. Controlling the rhythm will be a matter of… life and death, especially in each team’s home court.
It is safe to consider the Panathinaikos we saw in the second leg of the Top 16, as an “Mk II” version with large upgrades in its arsenal. The most significant one being Elliot Williams who came almost out of nowhere to supply the Greens with something that goes miles beyond the role of an “extra guard in the rotation”. Williams clicked in instantly, averaging 14.4 points and bringing significant clutch moments, which which his team won five out of its seven last matches in the Top 16, thus advancing in the playoffs.
The team has been visibly improved over the course of the Top 16, but still has to perform much better to down Laboral Kutxa in order to climb the extra step towards the Final Four. Especially considering the fact that Panathinaikos must win at least one game on the road. With so many pick n’ roll connoisseurs, coach Djordjevic has all the necessary tools in his hands in order to break down the opposing defense and slow down the rhythm to a tempo that fits the strengths of his team. The Greens have shown character in some crucial games of this Top 16, and they now need consistency in order to reach their target of the Final Four.
The Stars:
Although this is his first season in Laboral Kutxa, it’s like Giannis Bourousis has been playing there for ages. Thanks to his splendorous performances and fantastic numbers (14.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists per game) he has become leader of the team, and a fan favorite. Therefore, he will be the one to carry most of the load in Laboral’s offensive efforts against Panathinaikos. Nearly all offensive plays of his team will pass through his hands and he is the “public enemy number one” for his opponents.
He was officially named a Euroleague legend two weeks ago, but hey, he was already considered as such. Dimitris Diamantidis is not the protagonist in his team’s systems anymore (7 points, 4.3 assists), but he always brings his A-Game when needed. His beneficial output that spreads to all corners of the floor is going to be greatly needed against Laboral Kutxa. To control of the rhythm of the game, Panathinaikos will most likely play with many ball handlers most of the time, and that’s where “3D” steps in providing the leadership that wins this kind of games.
The Key match-up:
When Mike James (9.9 points, 2.5 points, 2.3 assists p.g.) is lit he can destroy every kind of defense, as he has shown numerous times in the season. On the other end of the court, he can apply some intense pressure to opposing guards, since he is very fast and has impressive athletic abilities. He is the one called to spoil the action of Panathinaikos’ main play-maker, to help cutting the lines of his opponents in two.
Now, Nick Calathes knows how to deal in this kind of match-ups, by fighting fire with fire, since he is an agile defender himself. As always, the Greek guard will dictate the rhythm of his team on offense being the main creative force (6.4 a.p.g.) and making baskets himself (9.5 p.p.g.). He is not a traditional shooter per se and Laboral will probably go under the screen on him, in order to exploit the 27& with which the Greek guard shot from the perimeter in the road games of the Top 16. If his shooting is adequate, then one of the defensive plans of Baskonia will instantly go to the trash can.
The X-Factors:
What is known as “the best defense is a good offense” will probably be a tactic heavily used against Giannis Bourousis, with Miroslav Raduljica as the main perpetrator. The Serbian center will try to hit two birds with one stone, not only scoring as optimally as he usually does (12.7 p.p.g.) but force the most dangerous player of Baskonia to make many fouls.
Such is Adam Hanga‘s role in Laboral Kutxa’s game, that he is working in an continuous motion on both ends of court. Apart from sabotaging any efforts his opponents will make to score, he moves incredibly well without the ball on offense, thus being a threat in this department too. No small forward of Panathinaikos can match his athletic skills, but the player who will most likely be in front of him, is Elliot Williams. Hanga will undertake the “mission impossible” of shutting down the American scorer to silence one major weapon of Panathinaikos.
The Coaches:
This is the second playoff series for Velimir Perasovic. The Croatian coach also had led Baskonia against Panathinaikos in the quarterfinals of 2006, when his team advanced in the Final Four by winning 2-1.
Along with Dejan Radonjic of Crvena Zvezda, Sasa Djordjevic is the only other coach in the current playoffs with no prior experience in this Euroleague stage.
The Tradition:
Laboral Kutxa has played in eight playoff series and has advanced to the Final Four in half of them. All in the previous decade (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), hence why they have a negative 13-14 record in the quarterfinal games. One of their highlights, is of course the 2006 series, when they eliminated Panathinaikos 2-1 to go to the Final Four of Prague.
Panathinaikos has been more successful, playing in five Final Four tournaments, after participating in nine playoff series. With the home-court advantage at their side they have a 4/5 qualification record. The only time they made it to the Final Four without it, was when they eliminated Barcelona 3-1, breaking their opponents home-court advantage with a win in Spain. Their result record is 19 – 16
Easter Egg:
Panathinaikos’ fans don’t carry the… fondest of feelings for Giannis Bourousis, since he was a player of arch-rival Olympiacos, back in the day (2007-20111). Expect him to receive the bulk of the “boos” (to say the least) in Athens.