Giorgos Kouvaris writes about the new problematic image of Panathinaikos in the match against Monaco and the second consecutive loss in the Euroleague, he explains that it should be a “resounding bell” for the future while underlining some things that need to be changed immediately.
I want to initially focus on three dates.
The first: November 21, 2023. O Ergin Ataman he urged his friends Panathinaikou on the sidelines of a press conference for an agreement with a major sponsor, to hurry to book tickets for the Final Four of Berlin. The sequel? Familiar.
The second: October 22, 2024: O Ergin Ataman he was asked about his famous rant (again on the sidelines of a sponsorship announcement) and whether he will once again urge friends of the “greens” to book tickets for the next Final Four, but he was not as optimistic and determined: “First I need the message from the team that we are ready to participate in Final Four. When I get it on the floor, then I’ll say it.”
The third: January 14, 2009: O Panathinaikos he had defeated her Procom at OAKA with a 22 point difference but o Zeliko Obradovic was furious with the performance of his players: “What Final Four? Who go to Final Four? This Panathinaikos?» Eventually he went and we all know what happened after that resounding wake-up call.
I could very well hear that line now in his voice Ergin Ataman. And so it is. This one Panathinaikos on November 30, 2024 to go to Final Four; Sorry but no. At this point in time, sorry, but no. Neither the jerseys alone will play esaeii basketball, nor his title Champion Europe he will cause fear and terror, nor will his opponents think of his last year’s exploits Panathinaikou.
“All this is in the past. Something that no one will remember,” he added the Obradovic at the press conference at the time, something that was also borrowed by Kostas Sloukas last September and especially on the sidelines of the presentation of the “Pavlos Giannakopoulos” tournament. Two months have passed since then.
A problem looking for… solutions
And the Panathinaikos gives the impression that he still hasn’t “delete” to what happened last year so that he looks at the next day as if it were the… first of the 2023-24 season. It has not moved forward, or at least it is not moving forward as it should. Hungry. I don’t know about you, but I only see “vegetarians” in him Panathinaikos until today and by no means hungry.
Does the team convince anyone that they can become dominant on a consistent basis? No. Will it convince in the future? It will show. For now, and to go back to the dates I mentioned at the beginning, Ergin Ataman is absolutely confirmed who when asked about the Final Four kept a low profile. He knew. He was seeing. Or rather he did NOT see. He had to wait. And still waiting. Amount; Hopefully not for long as 1/3 of the season is done and his image Panathinaikou is troubling. And it is quite troubling. And it should NOT be that much of a concern.
It’s not a new team either. He didn’t get a complete facelift like he did last year. Yes, he made three major additions but the time between the start of the season and now, I think is enough to have a different (overall) picture than the one we see today. Individually and in groups. The quality and talent remain. The motivation is missing. His “I walk onto the floor and I don’t see anyone” mentality. The eyes don’t shine like they did last year. This is something I mentioned a few weeks ago, but I don’t see anything has changed.
It’s one thing to win a game by playing good basketball and it’s quite another to play as hard as you can in order to win but end up on a tightrope because there’s a mentality that something will happen and I’ll win in the end. . If such a mentality exists, then the problem is big and deep. But I (want to) believe that still some players (or even himself). Ataman) are “deformed” or have not yet come out of “I am the champion of Europe” with which they see everyone (and they see them badly) from a high point of view.
The winning mentality and the… fat that is there to burn
The reason is simple: There are other teams that enter the court ready to “bite” (as he did in many matches last year Panathinaikos) and not to accept the “bite” until they… hurt and then react. I also wrote after his match Kaunas that him Panathinaikos He MUST be “chased” in the score and not “chased” by him. What I said, what I wrote, one and the same. I didn’t see anything change against her Monaco, which last year the “greens” had destroyed with a 25 point difference
The only thing I saw change was the “mentality» of the Monegasques with Santa Spanoulis on the bench. OK, he hardly put any elements of his own with just one training session in the Principality, but he certainly rallied them, he certainly “resourced” them and he will definitely go to the Monacosomething she’s been missing all these years with such good rosters. He’s always had good rosters. The winning mentality and spirit was missing. And if nothing else, the 42-year-old technician also gives… change from “winning mentality” which accompanied him throughout his career.
Exactly what he did last year Ataman to Panathinaikos. He (again) brought the winning mentality to the “greens” and we saw what happened in the end. From 17th… European Champion and from 0-2 in its finals Stoiximan GBL, performed “reverse sweep» and won the domestic title with 3-2 wins against Olympic. What he is called to bring back to the ranks of the team again this year. We said:Past is past». Now what happens is the issue! Yes, he still has a lot of… fat to burn Panathinaikos, yes it is located in “safe mode» after last year, but the (overall and general across the board) investment is so big that everyone has to forget what happened last year. The new season is progressing. And Panathinaikos already lists 5 defeats in 12 games.
Five observations
I have also kept some individual items from the match with Monacowhich we’ve seen happen several times this year.
Team Defense: For another match BAD defense by Panathinaikos as a result of which they are behind in the score, unable to take advantage of their own offensive qualities and… running and not reaching. Figuratively and literally because the returns are the worst possible resulting in easy baskets in the open court. Opponents make the transition from one basket to another with characteristic comfort and ease.
Gives free kicks: As in Kaunas, so now in OAKA against Monaco, the turnovers were very bad and Spanoulis’ team, having patience in their game, found the best possible solution. Monaco’s almost 46% with 10 three-pointers, Zalgiris’ 41% with 13 three-pointers, Olympiacos’ 50% with 12 three-pointers, or Red Star’s 50% (regardless of whether they won) with 15/30 three-pointers are numbers that they have to worry. And to worry because 85% were free kicks.
Jerian Grant: He continues to be deified, and rightly and justly deified! But should we also underline one of its big disadvantages? It slows the game down a lot. Too. He holds the ball longer than he should, as a result of which he often “sticks” to the “green” attack and often ends up in “killed” shots. As effective as it is.
Kendrick Nunn: To talk (although I don’t like it) a little and in betting terms? Nan has reached the point in recent matches of starting games with it “locked”. Over 2.5 foul from the first half or with at least one technical penalty. We have said many times that he needs to control his nerves. He doesn’t. And it works out badly for him. Not just of him who loses the rhythm, but of the team as a whole. Unlike last year, this year he is more concerned with the whistles (or non-whistles) of the referees, which affects (negatively) his overall game as well.
Huacho and then? This year, Panathinaikos gets almost nothing from its three-four. And I mean on a consistent basis. To tell my sin, I expected Osman to make the difference in the match. But another Euroleague and another… its national teams FIBA in the “windows”. Mitoglou still far from the real Mitoglou. Papapetrou has not shown stability. Grigonis remains injured. Huacho tries. But he is alone. Literally.
I’m sorry to say it, but with what we’re seeing at the GIVEN (I emphasize it) moment in time, surely this line should be running through everyone’s mind: “Ti Final Four? Who go to Final Four?» Change is necessary. And immediate. And I’m talking about the picture…
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