By Gilad Zwick
The most classic series of European basketball is about to start on Tuesday. Since 2000 Panathinaikos, has the same coach to his bench, who is also the best in the continent (Zeljko Obradovic) and they have wore Euroleague’s crown five times.
Three of those titles included Maccabi Tel Aviv; they played against each other at 2000 and 2011 finals and at 2002 semi-final. Keep also in mind that since the beginning of last millennium, in two of the three occasions that the European trophy was landed at Tel Aviv, Maccabi had to win Panathinaikos (Suproleague 2001 final and Euroleague 2005 semi-final in Moscow).
The key factor in a play offs series is to know when to use your strength. David Blu emphasized this point, when he said a few days ago “the series will be determined by the health condition of the players”. While Panathinaikos’ players played 43 games up to Tuesday, Israel’s champion will approach the first jump ball of the series, after playing 65 matches this year (!), thanks to the parallel participation in four tournaments (Adriatic League, Israeli League, Israeli Cup and Euroleague).
Maccabi’s coach, David Blatt, said last week that “we are enjoining the load”, but be sure that his players don’t think the same and everything they are going through is not such an enjoyable adventure!
Blatt has tried in every possible way to deal with tiredness, by keeping four players – Theo Paploukas, Devin Smith, David Blu and Sofoklis Schortsanitis – away from last week’s games in Adriatic league. After all he needs all his players to be fresh against Panathinaikos.
The two Greeks of Maccabi – “Papa” and “Sofo” – are expected to have an important role against Greek champion. “Sofo”, who experienced this season too many ups and downs (to his abilities and to his mentality), is supposed to be the biggest advantage for Maccabi. He actually said today he would like “to take revenge from Panathinaikos, for last year’s final”.
But he needs to prove that during this best of five series, after failing too many times in the past to taste the sweetness of victory against PAO. Now, he has one more chance to bring his best against the great defensive machine who’s operated by Obradovic.
Papaloukas, who was benched too many times by Blatt this season, has said a few times that he’s not happy with his situation in the team. The Greek player, who’s about to be 35 years old this May, knows this series gives him maybe the last chance to remind not only to Obradovic, but to PAO’s fans and Blatt, who is the best European guard of the last decade.