The opportunity to play in the Final Four in Athens spurred the leadership of Greek clubs. The fantastic composition of “Panathinaikos” was also pursued by his eternal rival, who pulled Matsiyauskas out of the NBA (where are you, Arvydas, missing!) And lured Gershon just a year after he ended up in the Euroleague finals for the third year in a row. Olympiacos players may not hear the songs of the fans discharged in red under the arches of the OAK. At least after the match on Thursday it seems as if there is no team more vulnerable.
Surprising success at CSKA is no longer fashionable. Before we had time to analyze how the army team “eat” the leaders of previous rivals, we also reached the Piraeus club: a pair of its defenders Penn - Aker did not score 10 points for two. Moreover, the latter, whose talent to this day is especially missed by the most ardent supporters of Detroit (it was from there that the young basketball player went to Europe), was noted only by a spectacular block-shot to Langdon. Is someone upset? I think no.
Trajan, at least, scored twice as many points.
Langdon became one of the participants in the next parade of “truckers” - from time to time CSKA resembles a sort of company Reggie Millerov. Five Muscovite players made 20 long-range attempts, of which 13 were realized (Smodis - 4 out of 5, Holden - 3 out of 3). Opponents could be justified by all the luck that favored the guests, if not for the fact that most of the shots were well-organized, they were by no means hasty.
Messina once said on her blog that real professionals differ from others in their ability to play in constant contact. So, sometimes it seems as though the army team used some sort of pear-pillows during training, which they use in hockey to train their ability to hold pushes on board. Olympiacos acted harshly, but the guests tolerated, held and scored even when they were “mowed” under the ring.
Still, it’s great that the existing system implies the possibility of calculating the difference in points in face-to-face meetings. The rules add interest, especially in the first round meetings, in which even a large difference does not give coaches the full right to use a deep reserve. CSKA did not lose seriousness, even when it was a major leader. Gershon’s wards tried to pressure, and Messina simultaneously released three playmakers (Papaloukas, Ponkrashov, Holden), and John-Robert, as the most mobile of the mentioned comrades, often had to drag the ball. Muscovites tried zone defense, and the excited Messina jumped along the sideline, becoming almost the most active participant in the defensive system.
The Athenians sincerely tried not to be sad, not pausing in the endless eulogy of their favorite club. Although no, there was still a pause - when Theo Papaloukas in the fourth period went to the bench. The leader of the national team and the former “red” rostrum was ovated. Theo swam in it for the whole of CSKA.
Nikolai TSYNKEVICH