By Stefanos Tatsios/ info@eurohoops.net
And while a powerhouse like CSKA Moscow has five sweeps under its belt, the most than any other team, two other teams which also considered part of the elite, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos have been victims of a sweep, to be exact the Greens twice.
Meanwhile, Zeljko Obradovic is unbeaten in the playoffs as Fenerbahce Dogus’ coach with a perfect 9-0 record so far in the postseason.
Here are all the sweeps, dating back to the 2004-05 season.
2004-05: Baskonia‘s surprise
Maccabi Tel Aviv – Scavolini Pesaro (2-0): It was arguably Maccabi‘s best modern era and the Israelis got two wins, at home 88-60 and on the road by three points (103-100) after a spectacular contest.
CSKA Moscow – Ulker (2-0): CSKA was hosting the Final Four and Duda Ivkovic’s team was unbeaten during the regular season. The same happened in the playoffs against Turkish club Ulker, as CSKA Moscow got two easy wins (88-74, 82-64).
Benetton Treviso – Tau Ceramica (0-2): In what turned out to be the best EuroLeague season ever for Tau Ceramica, the team of Dusko Ivanovic won Game 1 on the road almost by 30 points (98-59) and Luis Scola scoring 34 points. At home, things were not easy, Benetton reacted, but Tau Ceramica got the close 66-64 win.
2005-06: CSKA again
CSKA Moscow – Anadolu Efes (2-0): Once more the “Army Team” just marched. CSKA got the win in the first game without much fuss and with the final score being 66-57.
The road game in Istanbul was a fight and a stellar night by Trajan Langton was needed (24 p. 5/7 3p.) for Ettore Messina’s team. The final score was 75-71 for CSKA.
2006-07: The Greek shock
Panathinaikos – Dinamo Moscow (2-0): Playing against former Greens Lazaros Papadopoulos and Antonis Fotsis, Panathinaikos beat Dinamo twice (80-58, 72-65). Ramunas Siskauskas with 16 points in Game 1 and 19 in Game 2 was leading the charge.
Tau Ceramica – Olympiacos (2-o): Olympiacos was trying to get back in the elite under Israeli coach Pini Gershon. That didn’t happen against Tau Ceramica which won Game 1 by 25 points (84-59) and Game 2 by six (95-89).