By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Greek player, who is one of the most important players in the modern history of the EuroLeague, is in Turkey these days and he’s one of the EuroLeague legends who are going to take part in various events as part of the Final Four.
Theo writes about the two semifinals and analyzes Friday’s clashes from his own angle. He leaves all options open since, after so many appearances in the Final Four himself, he knows that anything can happen!
CSKA – Olympiacos
It’s a pair that has clashed several times in the recent past of the Final Four and they are two teams I’ve played for and have an emotional connection to. CSKA are the European champions, a more than complete team and, in theory, they can be considered the favorites in this semifinal. CSKA have quality, chemistry and the same body of players with the same coach these past years.
Olympiacos, on the other side, are the opponent that no one wants to play against in such critical games. A team that never gives up and one that has proven they have the way to survive and disprove the prognostics. All these past years they’ve been at the top level and after the two consecutive Final Fours of 2009 and 2010, they’ve won two titles, they’ve played in the 2015 final, and are rightfully among the top four teams in Europe once again.
I’m expecting a hand-to-hand type battle and who wants it the most as well as the kind of night the teams are going to have, will play a big role. Anything can happen, especially if we’re in the last minutes of the contest and the two opponents are close in the score.
Another big game! Everyone’s expecting Fenerbahce to take advantage of the home court advantage and the extra fans in the stands. I’ve been in a similar position in my career, in 2005 in the Final Four in Moscow, when everyone was expecting us to win the trophy and we were coming off an amazing season with a big winning streak.
I don’t think it’s going to be easy for Fenerbahce and a lot is going to depend on how they handle the dominance in the stands and the pressure of expectation. On the other hand, Zeljko Obradovic – who has vast experience coaching big games – and his players are going to the Final Four for the third season in a row, he has the same body of starting players and experience in these kinds of games plays a huge role.
Furthermore, after getting the qualification in the series against Panathinaikos, it seems like Fenerbahce are playing with their psychology soaring and that they’ve gained momentum and competitive form at the most appropriate time of the season. Real are experienced as well, they’ve had the same coach for years and they have players of great quality and with a lot of experience.
They have all those elements that are required if they’re not to be affected by the home court element but instead step on the court to play their game and reach their full potential. I’m expecting a big game, I won’t be surprised if we see runs from both teams as well as alternating leads, and it’s true that both teams have certain players who are capable of “killing” you if they get into a rhythm execution-wise.
This season’s EuroLeague, in its new format, has given us a lot of emotions in addition to a great number of big, competitive European derbies. Now, we’re approaching the peak of the competition and I’m sure that we’re in for a weekend full of suspense, intense emotions and… big shots!
Let’s all enjoy it as we should! We’ll be talking after Friday’s semifinals as well, ahead of the final that will… give us the new European champions!
Be well, Theodoros