By Vaggelis Papadimitriou / info@eurohoops.net
“This series is the best in the Playoffs and it’s really competitive”, Marius Grigonis told Eurohoops in the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall’s locker rooms right after beating Maccabi Tel Aviv and forcing Game 5 in OAKA.
And he didn’t miss the point, considering this could rightfully be considered the most interesting series to witness, for several factors. “It is tense, on and off the court. I believe a lot of drama, that’s what the basketball world wants. I’m not happy to be a part, I’d say the better option is to win 3-0 and go. But they’re a really good team and it’s close. It’s fun and a lot of nerves”, he also said.
After getting back and forth in the first three games, with their backs on the wall, Panathinaikos managed to overcome a seven-point deficit in the last minutes of the fourth quarter, entering a 20-6 run to escape with the 95-88 victory on the road.
The Lithuanian guard was asked if this was the most intense and physical game of the series thus far. “I believe yes”, he first answered. “Tonight we were really physical, answering in the right way. It was ups and downs. We’re happy but the job is not done. I hope in OAKA we will win this to get to Berlin”, he crossed his fingers ahead of the do-or-die clash in Athens next week.
Panathinaikos played Game 4 the right way against one of the toughest opponents possible. “They are a really damn good team. To be honest, they’re playing really well. They always find the answers to our defense, they’re making tough shots, and their whole bench is playing really well”, the 30-year-old slasher said about the yellow-and-blue side.
“Athens is hyped”
“Both teams are really close and you never know what can happen. We have one game at home, Athens is hyped, and everybody will come. We will create a crazy atmosphere. The most important thing is to get that victory”, he said before commenting on OAKA’s factor. “You need to ask Maccabi players if they’re ready. For us it’s just an energy boost. You need to ask them”, he added.
Just like Olympiacos in Barcelona – Nigel Williams-Goss commented about it to Eurohoops -, Maccabi Tel Aviv could have the possibility of becoming the first team to win Game 5 of a EuroLeague Playoffs series on the road. “I never follow stats because you never know who’s gonna be the first. It’s better to not think about that, go out there and fight like we did today”, Marius Grigonis also commented.
Combining 47 points for Panathinaikos, Kendrick Nunn and Kostas Sloukas were crucial. “Our team the whole season, it’s always one or the other guy who can score over twenty points. I’m happy K [Kendrick Nunn] is performing, he’s really skilled. Happy to have a good teammate like him, happy to have Slou [Kostas Sloukas]”, he said.
“We have a good group of guys, it’d be a shame to finish the EuroLeague season too soon. For all these guys and people in the office, we owe them to keep fighting at least, to give everything, and not have regrets. It doesn’t matter how it finishes, just put everything on the floor”, Marius Grigonis finally commented to Eurohoops after getting the huge victory in Belgrade.
In his second EuroLeague season with Panathinaikos, he has been putting up. 9.7 points per game over excellent shooting percentages: 59.6% from two, 42.2% from three, and 90.0% at the line. Before joining the Greek team, he played with Manresa, Tenerife, ALBA, Zalgiris Kaunas, and one season in CSKA.
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague