Giorgos Kouvaris writes about the magnificent presence of Kendrick Nunn in the match against Armani, the “statement” appearance of Panathinaikos after a long time, while he makes a special mention of the defense that… finally appeared.
Really. What else can be said and written about him Kendrick Nunn.
I’ll just say one thing. We are lucky to live, enjoy (and we journalists cover) his time. Certainly no one expected a year ago that the American guard would currently enter the equation as one of the best foreigners (if not the best based on talent and results) to have played in Greece and donned their jersey Panathinaikou.
And yet. In my eyes he has to be in the conversation for the best. However, these will not concern us today, but in the coming years. For now we look at his achievements, which leave basketball Europe in awe. I have also caught myself saying ‘well, what is the man doing?’ “Human” way they say why Kendrick Nunn rather it has come to us from another planet.
Quite simply, what he does does NOT exist. And I find it very difficult to find a foreigner in the history of Greek basketball who can score with such fluency and make the difficult look easy. Especially the way basketball is today, with the defenses that exist and the speeds at which it is played. That change of direction with the ball in hand, the crossover dribbles, the sharp stop, the unmissable mid range and of course the three-pointer. He scores in all ways. And he scores consistently. Even against very difficult defenses. Even if he needs (sometimes) to “create” for himself.
The joy of playing
I think that Mr Kendrick Nunn it’s the joy of the game! He is the player that EVERY coach would want on their roster. Whatever philosophy he has. Whatever his preferred play style. When there is Kendrick Nunn on the roster, automatically each coach will have to adapt to him. And trust me. Only a white person will take him out, as of course he takes him out Ergin Ataman. These days we learned something else.
When he gets angry and feels wronged, he is able to drag everyone and everything into his “diava”. As well as did in the match with her Armani. Basically, the Italian team was unlucky to be in his way, right after his suspension. He had not competed against effects, the Panathinaikos he had experienced a heavy defeat, he himself had accumulated energy, anger and strength and at the same time he wanted to “break out” somewhere. And the bad luck Armani paid for her broken ones Euroleague who had punished him with a one match ban.
He scored at will, reaching 39 points “breaking” the career record he had set two weeks ago against the Barcelona (29p.) and appeared to be in a demonic state. Supposedly he had an ankle problem. Imagine if he had not hit Lavrio and had also trained on the eve of the match. Basically, the problems in the ankles were acquired by Richie and Shields who “disbanded” them trying (unsuccessfully) to brand him Nan.
Of course, in the end he got stressed. He wanted to “write” 40+ points as a result, and while the match was already decided, to take shots in a hurry and not with as much confidence as he shot in the first quarter with 7/8 three-pointers. Well, when the mind “breaks”, the momentum is also lost. And no matter how hard the American tried, he couldn’t. It does not matter. Better. Get motivated for the next one. Because trust me. It will blow his mind. He aims for it. And if you want my opinion, I think that at some point (I don’t know if it will be with her Baskonia on Thursday 19/12) will achieve it…
Kalaitzakis, the epitome of “hard worker»
Of course (and to return to the match with her Armani) to reach point o Nan finding the shots he wanted and getting the points he was looking for, other things played a role as well. Defense first and foremost! You remember that I wrote to you after the match with her Effects that in the five previous matches (four defeats and one victory) the average points received by Panathinaikos was it 89.6?
Her Armani of 88.5 points on average before the showdown on OAKA, “lowered” her to 74 points! So we are talking about -14.1 points. And if that’s not progress, then what is? It remains to be seen – and this is the biggest question – whether there will be stability and continuity. It should not be a defensive “firework” but the bases that should have been put in a long time ago.
And here I would say that indirectly but clearly o Ataman he admitted his mistake. Not to the others. Only to himself. And it was about him Panagiotis Kalaitzakis. How many and how many times have you also discussed in your groups about the international guard/forward, expressing the question about the Turkish coach “but why doesn’t he play him?” Especially since defense was his “black hole”. Panathinaikou this season and inversely proportional to what the team had presented last year.
You know, I read left and right or even in conversations with friends (even coaches) about the fact that Greeks don’t play in their teams. Why don’t they play? Because the strangers in front of them can be (which most of the time are) better. Why are they better? Because many Greeks do not work as they should or do not accept their role. Unless we’re talking about him Kalaitzakis, which confirms to the core the opinion “hard work pays off“, he has accepted (and more than that) his role and is simply waiting for his opportunities. And trust me. It will have more and more and will become a more active part of it rotation.
Duration required
And I take off my hat to Ataman, who clearly proved one thing: He wants to win. Period and dash. And he doesn’t care if he is on the floor Nan, the Sloukas and the Lessor or o Kalaitzakis, the Moraitis and the Samonturov. He decided that drastic changes had to be made in the defense and started the match with five of them Kalaitzakis, Grant and Juancho. All three have defense as their strong point. Shall I remind you what happened? 14-0 run at the start of the game and her early comeback Armani at Milan.
Since I mentioned the beginning. From the first (literally from the first) defense one could understand what would follow. THE Kalaitzakis took out the defense forcing him Nicola Mirotic in error, the OAKA stood up seeing “that something is going to happen tonight” and the rest is history. OR Armani scored her first basket at 05:58 before the end of the first quarter, having been trapped by the unique defense of the “clover” and it was already too late for any reaction.
And when the defenses “come out”, the easy basket automatically comes to the attack. These are interrelated. These are the elements that “launched” him as well Panathinaikos (total) last year. I liked the fact that the ball almost always went through the “drawing board”. Either in his hands Lessoror in his hands Yurtseven. Much more prudent in their movements. They saw the court and dished out five of 26 assists. For a center it is a satisfactory number, “playing” exceptionally “outside-inside” in the pass.
I also liked that they got two players back in the good matches. The “hundred pound” Jerian Grant who, after 0/9 shots in Polis, stepped on the gas in Lavrio and kept it… pressed against the Armani with 12 points, 8 assists, 3 steals and great defenses. Commonly known as… Grantwhom (the truth is) we have been looking for for 30-40 days.
Also the Dino Mitoglou. Even if he needs it Panathinaikos. Yes, it has risen a lot this year Juancho but one complements the other. And the good one Mitoglou is indispensable for him Panathinaikos. He had a very good presence in defense and attack, helped on Mirotic and left a very positive sign.
What is the common denominator in all of these going forward? The duration. The consequence. Although and since Panathinaikos manages to create a stability in his performance (I’m not saying he saves and always brings results but presents a good face) then he will start walking on the same paths as last year. Let the fight against Armani not be a parenthesis but the starting point for the great counterattack. The match with Baskonia is in a few hours. There it will be seen whether the “chip” has turned or if there will be a retreat…
PS: I think Ataman in one sentence captured how he thinks when he expressed his wonder about the panic that had been caused after going 1-4 in their last five matches Euroleague. Those who are outside the dance, many songs (know how to) say. The point is what the coach says and what is really true… And the coach does not deviate at all from his goals.
PS2: What a beautiful picture to end the match, Nan having scored 39 points but all the players they run to embrace and deify the 19-year-old Samonturov for the two consecutive stops in Gillespie and Flakadori.
PS3: The news about the death of Giannis Tima is truly incredible…
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