By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Until the 38th minute of the game, Real was too close to win Panathinaikos who had played an excellent game, but was behind 63-61. Dimitris Diamantidis though, took the responsibility and did the usual. He made a three pointer giving the win to his team. How many times have you watched that?
The captain of Greens during the last years has the role of the “killer by distance” as it’s proven by his game habits. He stays away of the paint (when he penetrates usually he prefers to end his run with passes to the perimeter) and mostly waits to shoot beyond the arc. Diamantidis started his career in Panathinaikos as an excellent creator who was afraid to shoot, because he didn’t trust his shot.
After exhausting working hours and Zoc’s encouragements he started to get confidence and shoot more often from distance. But the situation has totally changed, because this season the 73%(!) of his shots are three pointers. Have in mind that in his first Euroleague season this balance was completely different (only 36% of his shots were threes). If you have a look in the table you ‘ll note that every year Diamantidis goes constantly further and further away from the paint, but he keeps his killing instinct!
| Season | Two pointers | Three pointers | Percentage 2p-3p |
| 2012-13 | 19/34 | 31/93 | 27%-73% |
| 2011-12 | 30/61 | 48/113 | 36%-64% |
| 2010-11 | 35/66 | 37/100 | 40%-60% |
| 2009-10 | 17/28 | 16/31 | 48%-52% |
| 2008-09 | 28/52 | 26/59 | 47%-53% |
| 2007-08 | 20/35 | 27/62 | 37%-63% |
| 2006-07 | 40/78 | 29/63 | 56%-44% |
| 2005-06 | 53/84 | 14/52 | 62%-38% |
| 2004-05 | 47/80 | 21/45 | 64%-36% |