By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The result of the upcoming Olympiacos and Panathinaikos clash can be decisive in the battle for the home-court advantage in the EuroLeague playoffs
Olympiacos Piraeus and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens are facing each other this Thursday in Round 29 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. This edition is among the most anticipated in recent years between these “eternal rivals” because both are aiming for a top-four finish and home-court advantage in the playoffs. Thursday’s result can be decisive to that quest.
Every brush between these two powerhouses is enticing in any given situation. This one, in particular though, carries a big “must-watch” label all over it.
Here are 10 reasons why.
1. The Matchups
There’s a plethora of lineups available to both coaches that can create interesting and distinctive matchups on both ends. Some possibilities include Thomas Walkup vs. Kendrick Nunn or Kostas Sloukas, and Alec Peters vs. Dinos Mitoglou or Juancho Hernangomez. Pay extra attention to Mathias Lessort taking on his fellow French big man Moustapha Fall or Moses Wright and keep an eye out for Jerian Grant against Isaiah Canaan.
2. The Atmosphere
That’s a highlight of its own in every EuroLeague derby and a staple in the games that feature teams with notable fanbases, especially in the Balkan territory. Banners and flags everywhere, noise through the roof and, in this case, a sea of red as the canvas. Olympiacos‘s supporters sold out Peace and Friendship Stadium weeks ago. On Thursday, they will look to break the decibel meter and many eardrums with their noise, singing and chants of support.
3. The Battle on the Benches
Giorgos Bartzokas against Ergin Ataman. Two of the most acclaimed coaching masterminds in the EuroLeague right now have already faced each other 17 times throughout their careers in the competition. From this season, their own rivalry has extended to the Greek League.
In 2023-24 so far, Bartzokas has won three out of their five games across all competitions: the Greek SuperCup final, the EuroLeague opener at Panathinaikos, most recently, the Greek Cup final. Ataman got victories in their two Greek League regular season games, at home and on the road.
4. The Stakes
This is by far the most important EuroLeague clash between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos since the two sides met each other in the Top 16 round of 2002.
Panathinaikos has an 18-10 record and holds third place in the standings while Olympiacos is fifth at 17-11. If the Greens get the win in regulation time, they won’t only increase their lead over their rival but will also own the tiebreaker between them, since Olympiacos won in overtime in the first leg and points in overtime do not count toward tiebreaks. That would make for a decisive step, should Panathinaikos win, towards securing home-court advantage in the playoffs.
On the other hand, with a regular-season sweep, Olympiacos will have the same record as Panathinaikos, the tiebreaker between them and, of course, the upper hand in the race for the top four.
5. The Players
They are the protagonists of the whole thing, the main attraction, and the primary reason you need to tune in. From veteran stars with heaps of experience in these games – like Kostas Sloukas and Kostas Papanikolaou – to All-EuroLeague candidates this season – like Mathias Lessort, Alec Peters, Dinos Mitoglou, Kendrick Nunn or Thomas Walkup, to name a few – there’s an abundance of quality, brawn and brains on both sides. Expect some big-time performances, both offensively and defensively.
6. The Payback-Seeking Motivation
Winning the Greek derby always means a lot and the gravity of this game is multiplied if you were beaten in the previous one. Panathinaikos comes to this match following a loss to Olympiacos in the Greek Cup final, so it’s natural that Ergin Ataman’s players will be extra hyped and driven to avenge that defeat.
7. The Desire to Retain the Streak
Olympiacos has defeated Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague five times in a row, having registered wins in all 2021-22 and 2022-23 regular season games and leaving OAKA with the overtime dub back in October. They will look to extend this record on Thursday and move to 6-0 while grabbing a significant victory.
8. The Prestige
Olympiacos against Panathinaikos is the biggest historical mega-rivalry in Greece. Every time they confront each other, it’s the sports battle to end all battles, the game everyone talks about, the event shown in every bar or cafe, the reason for fans of the winning team to get bragging rights the next day at work, school, the gym or wherever, teasing supporters of the losing side immensely. It’s simply a classic.
9. The History
The upcoming game will mark the 25th time that Olympiacos and Panathinaikos have met each other in the EuroLeague since the 1994 semifinal. The Reds have won 17 of these 24 games.