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).
2007-08: The first and only Italian sweep
Siena – Fenerbahce (2-0): With Siena on its peak, things were quite difficult for Fenerbahce. The Italians won Game 1 (75-66) at home and simply destroyed their opponents in Istanbul.
The final score was 86-65 in favor of the Italians who had emerged as one of the European powerhouses.
2008-09: CSKA again and again
CSKA Moscow – Partizan Belgrade (3-0): This is the first season in which the playoffs expanded to a best of five format.
However, Partizan didn’t have a chance against CSKA Moscow. The “Army Team” won Game 1 (56-47) by playing stellar defense and set the tone for the rest of the series.
In Game 2, things were even easier for CSKA (77-50) and in Game 3, despite playing on the road, the Russian powerhouse won again 67-56. The 56 made points were the best offensive performance of Partizan in the series.
2011-12: Barca’s sweep
Barcelona-Unics Kazan (3-0): After missing the Final Four the previous season, Barcelona arrived at the playoffs firing at all cylinders.
The final score at Game 1 was 78-66, however in Game 2 things were quite different. Barca won just by three points (66-63) and with the series traveling to Kazan, everyone expected that the Russian side will be capable of getting the win.
That was not the case. Barcelona won Game 3 (67-56) behind 21 points by Juan Carlos Navarro.
2012-13: The “White” sweep
Real Madrid – Maccabi Tel Aviv (3-0): Real Madrid was one of the favorites to go all the way and they proved it in the playoffs.
Game 1 ended with the hosts making a demonstration of their power (79-53). Sergio Llull scored 26 points on six threes and Madrid also won Game 2 (75-63).
After those two games, despite the fact that the series traveled to Tel Aviv, nobody believed that Maccabi could turn things around. They were right. Madrid won Game 3 by 12 points (69-57).