By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
The sweeps have been accomplished by five teams from as many countries, with two teams having three each and the rest following behind. Here are the 11 in 44 best-of-five series, in anticipation of the next one(s)…
2008-09
Face off: (1) CSKA Moscow – (2) Partizan 3-0 (56-47, 77-50, 56-67)
Finish line: Finalists
CSKA Moscow was the first team to sweep a best-of-five series in the playoffs. Its victim was Partizan, with whom it had squared off during the regular season too, but had split road wins. The common denominator was strong defenses, much more so in the case of CSKA, which limited Partizan to an average of 51 points over the three games.
Erazem Lorbek played the main role for CSKA with 15.7 points per game in the series.
2011-12
Face off: (1) FC Barcelona Regal – (2) UNICS Kazan 3-0 (78-66, 66-63, 56-67)
Finish line: Third place
With a 15-1 record entering the playoffs, FC Barcelona Regal was the absolute favorite to qualify from the series against UNICS Kazan and had little trouble – though Game 2 was a nail-biter. Pete Mickeal’s 2 free throws 4.9 seconds before the end made the difference and Henry Domercant scored a three-pointer from behind halfcourt at the final buzzer. Just like in the regular season, Barcelona swept its opponent again on the way to the Final Four.
This remains UNICS’s only appearance in the playoffs in three seasons in the competition.