Νίκη - πρόκριση

Νίκη-πρόκριση στο Top-16 έκανε ο Παναθηναϊκός στο ΟΑΚΑ κερδίζοντας την Μπάγερν με 87-72 παίρνοντας την άτυπη ρεβάνς για την ήττα στο Μόναχο και αποκαθιστώντας την τάξη στον όμιλο, κάνοντας το 5-2. Απόψε έδειξε ότι μπορεί να καταφέρει και χωρίς τον Μπατίστα που ήταν απόν.

Και ξεκινάμε την ανάλυση από αυτό το σημείο, καθώς η Μπάγερν προς το τέλος του αγώνα κατάλαβε ότι πρέπει να χτυπήσει από τη θέση 5 που απόντος του Μπατίστα υπερτερούσε. Αντιθέτως, όπως μας έχει δείξει και σε προηγούμενα ματς σουτάρει πάρα πολύ από τα 6,75. Απόψε τα έσπασε με 4/23 οπότε και δεν είχε καμία τύχη.

Οι πράσινοι όμως που στην έδρα τους σουτάρουν με υψηλά ποσοστά, είχαν και αυτό το όπλο στη φαρέτρα τους και στηριζόμενοι στα μακρινά τρίποντα του Φώτση και το κρύο χέρι του Σλότερ, δεν άφησαν πολλά περιθώρια στη Μπάγερν. Ήταν μπροστά στο σκορ στη μεγαλύτερη διάρκεια του αγώνα και ουσιαστικά δεν απαλείφθηκε από τους Γερμανούς.

Πολύ καλός και ουσιαστικός για ακόμα μια φορά ο Μαυροκεφαλίδης, που πήρε για 28' το βάρος της θέσης 5 πάνω του και βοήθησε στο σκοράρισμα με 16 π. και καλά ποσοστά με max PIR (20). 

Γρήγορο - φρέσκο μπάσκετ από τον Παναθηναϊκό στα όρια του run & gun, ειδικά στο 4ο δεκάλεπτο που είχε ξεφύγει και μπήκαν στο παρκέ οι νεότεροι. Παιχνίδι με πολλά σουτ, λογικό απόντος Μπατίστα , αλλά και χάρη στην εμπιστοσύνη στο τρίποντο που νιώθει η ομάδα στην έδρα του. Και που να ξεκινήσει και ο Ντεμάρκους Νέλσον... Έσπασε με καλή κυκλοφορία την πίεση και το ξύλο της Μπάγερν.

Το ζητούμενο για τους πράσινους είναι να βρουν τη χημεία τους στην 1η φάση, γιατί τα ματς στο Top-16 θα είναι πολύ πιο απαιτητικά και δύσκολα. Εκεί θα φανεί και η ομάδα καθώς είναι αρκετά νενανική και έχει μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον για να δούμε πως θα αντιδράσει και ιδιαίτερα και στα ματς που δε θα της βγουν τα σουτ.

HIGHLIGHTS

Official Euroleague Report

Greens take high road past Bayern and into Top 16 

Panathinaikos Athens charged into the Top 16 and avenged its first loss of the season on Friday with a no-doubt-about it 87-72 victory over visiting FC Bayern Munich. The Greens raised their Group C record to 5-2, pulling with them to the next round Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul, with the same record, while FC Barcelona had previously qualified. Bayern dropped to 1-6 and faces a do-or-die game next week at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan to keep its Top 16 hopes alive. Panathinaikos played without starting center Esteban Batista but hardly missed his points as backup Loukas Mavrokefalidis stepped up with 16, surpassed only by A.J. Slaughter's 17. Antonis Fotsis added 14, Vlantimir Giankovits 13 and Nikos Pappas 10 for the winners. The Greens held Bayern scoreless for 5 minutes of the first quarter to stake early leads. When Bo McCalebb rallied the visitors for a 31-31 second-quarter tie, Slaughter and Fotsis shared 3 three-pointers in a 13-2 run to close the half. Panathinaikos, which had just 5 turnovers, a club record in the Euroleague, was never threatened again. Bayern got 15 points from McCalebb and 14 from Robin Benzing, but suffered from 4-for-23 three-point shooting. 

First quarter: Greens' defense secures lead 

Slaughter buried a three-pointer to open the scoring for the hosts. John Bryant took that responsibility for Bayern with a layup that McCalebb soon copied for a 3-4 lead. Giankovits answered with the first Panathinaikos triple, before Dusko Savanovic hit free throws and a lane jumper for a 6-8 Bayern advantage. Slaughter dropped a runner to tie again before Mavrokefalidis put Panathinaikos in front with a pair of jumpers. Dimitris Diamantidis found a diagonal avenue to the basket for a reverse and a 14-8 lead that lasted a couple minutes until Vasilije Micic finally answered for Bayern. Giankovits restored the Greens' six-point lead at the foul line, then James Gist expanded on it with his first basket before Milic added his second for an 18-12 scoreboard after 10 minutes. 

Second quarter: McCalebb rallies Bayern, Slaughter answers 

Heiko Schaffartzik's three-point play to open the second quarter got Bayern right back in it, 18-15, but soon Panathinaikos added new scorers. Julian Wright scored in close and Pappas drilled a triple to make it 23-18. Wright detonated a huge dunk while Vladimir Stimac joined the Bayern effort with 3 points. Eleftherios Bochoridis did the same for Panathinaikos with a layup to match one by Pappas that made it 29-23. Robin Benzing hit free throws and McCalebb followed with a jump shot to get Bayern as close as it had been in a while, 29-27. Pappas and Savanovic traded layups before McCalebb pulled up for another jumper and a 31-31 tie. Mavrokefalidis broke the tie in favor of Panathinaikos and then Slaughter was left open to add a triple to it. After a timeout, Bayern watched Fotsis drill a deep triple, too, to match the game's high lead, 39-31. McCalebb got 2 points back at the foul line, but Diamantidis fed Mavrokefalidis to match it. After another timeout, Panathinakos went to Slaughter, who buried the first half's last shot from downtown for the first double-digit lead, 44-33. 

Third quarter: Mavrokefalidis takes over 

A series of 5 out of 6 free throws by Fotsis and Giankovits pushed the Panathinaikos advantage to 49-33 to start the second half. Bayern got worse news when Micic left the floor in pain with an elbow injury, but finally got its first basket from Stimac. But that was met with those of Mavrokefalidis and Giankovits, whose fastbreak layup forced a Bayern timeout at 53-35. A quick dish from Slaughter to Mavrokefalidis upped the difference to 20 points. Benzing broke Bayern's slide with a layup that Diamantidis and Mavrokefalidis erased with 2 free throws each. Benzing answered with a three-pointer, just Bayern's second in 13 tries, before Savanovic broke loose on a fastbreak to make it 59-42. Slaughter and Schaffartzik traded baskets next, then a scoring pause ended with Pappas drilling a triple at 64-45. Bryant and Savanovic shared 4 perfect free throws before Schaffartzik's no-look pass led Bryant to a bucket to trim the difference to 65-51 after 30 minutes. 

Fourth quarter: Fotsis slams the door 

A sweet give-and-go from Wright to Fotsis opened the fourth-quarter scoring. When Bryant answered with a three-point play, Fotsis simply matched it from long-range. Benzing and McCalebb kept trimming the difference, however, with the latter's steal and fastbreak layup making it 70-58. McCalebb chose that moment for Bayern's third three-pointer, which reduced the difference to single digits, but only until Mavrokefalidis hit 2 free throws for a 72-61 scoreboard with 5 minutes left. Benzing scored in close, but Slaughter answered with 4 consecutive free throws as McCalebb fouled out. Paul Zipser scored at 77-65, but that was bettered by Diamantidis from long range. Another fortuitous triple from Fotsis, his third, put the game out of reach at 83-65 as Panathinaikos fans celebrated the march to another Top 16 and Bayern was left to figure out how to save the same opportunity.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Euroleague.net

Πήγε για να χάσει

Ποδαρικό στις ήττες έκανε ο Ολυμπιακός με 89-70 χάνοντας από τη Λαμποράλ στη Βασκονία. Χαλαρή διάθεση, μικρή συγκέντρωση, κακές άμυνες και soft αντιμετώπιση στα πικ εν ρολ συνθέτουν το σκηνικό της ήττας. Ο τρόπος που αντιμετώπισαν το ματς οι ερυθρόλευκοι ήταν εμφανώς αδιάφορος, καθώς φαίνεται πως πίστεψαν στο αρχικό 6-0 και πιθανότατα στην 1η θέση. Έτσι βρήκε την ευκαιρία (ή σχεδίασε;) και ο Σφαιρόπουλος να δοκιμάσει τους πιο ανέτοιμους παίκτες, είτε  για να αποκτήσουν εμπειρία όπως ο Αγραβάνης, είτε για να δέσουν καλύτερα και με τους υπόλοιπους, όπως οι Ντάρντεν και Λαφαγιέτ που δεν είχαν πάρει αρκετό χρόνο συμμετοχής ως τώρα. Οι τρεις προαναφερθείς παίκτες φαίνεται ότι θέλουν χρόνο για να μπουν στο κλίμα της υπόλοιπης ομάδας.

Στην ανάλυση του αγώνα, ο Ολυμπιακός δέχτηκε 89 πόντους παίζοντας αδιάφορη άμυνα. Άφησε το Σαν Εμετέριο και τη Λαμποράλ να βάλει τα σουτ και να βρει ρυθμό και σε συνδυασμό με τις πολλές λανθασμένες επιλογές στην επίθεση σε όλο το ματς, ουσιαστικά κόντραρε μόλις για 1 δεκάλεπτο τη Λαμποράλ. 

Κύριος εκφραστής των επιθέσεων στο 1ο δεκάλεπτο ήταν ο Σπανούλης. Τον ξεκούρασε ο Σφαιρόπουλος στο 2ο. Στην επίθεση προσπάθησε να περάσει τη μπάλα στη ρακέτα και βρήκε πόντους στη θέση 5 με τον Ντάνστον χαρίζοντας εντυπωσιακά καρφώματα και διαδοχικούς πόντους. 

Δυστυχώς οι περισσότεροι παίκτες του Ολυμπιακού δεν βρέθηκαν σε καλή μέρα και ήταν και πολλοί άστοχοι στα σουτ 3 πόντων. Δεν μπορείς έτσι να αξιώσεις τη νίκη.

Εκτός κλίματος ο Μάντζαρης, με κακές επιλογές και πολλά αβίαστα λάθη. Μοναδικό αυτό που είδαμε από τον Ντάρντεν που του,πήραν την μπάλα μέσα από τα χέρια 3-4 φορές, κάτι που δηλώνει κόπωση.

Στην ύστατη προσπαθεία να γυρίσει το ματς στο 4ο δεκάλεπτο με τρίποντο του Λαφαγιέτ ρίχνει τη διαφορά στο +11 αλλά εξαιτίας των κακών και βεβιασμένων επιλογών στην επίθεση δεν καταφέρνει να το γυρίσει. Μόνη επιθετική λύση τα μοναδικά  drive του Σπανούλη που μπήκε στο 35´ και έπαιζε μόνος του. Καταπληκτικό goal-foul καλάθι περνώντας κάτω από την ρακέτα. Τερμάτισε στους 27 πόντους. Το να στηρίζεται βέβαια η ομάδα σε έναν παίκτη επιθετικά, θα πρέπει να προβληματίσει το staff του Ολυμπιακού, ανεξάρτητα από την απουσία δύο παικτών που είναι σκόρερ (Λοτζέσκι - Πρίντεζη) καθώς πρέπει η ομάδα να μάθει να στηρίζεται και στους υπόλοιπους παίκτες αλλά και να μπορεί να αντιδρά σε περιπτώσεις απουσιών στο μέλλον, κυρίως του Σπανούλη.

HD HIGHLIGHTS

Official Euroleague Report

Laboral Kutxa downs Olympiacos on historic night 

Laboral Kutxa Vitoria reached a historic milestone and beat previously undefeated Olympiacos Piraeus 89-70 in the Game of the Week to get an important win in the hunt for a place in the Top 16. Laboral, which scored its 25,000th Euroleague point during the second quarter, improved to 3-4 and will be in at least a share of the fourth place in Group D on Friday. Meanwhile, Olympiacos now holds a 6-1 record, but remains two wins clear atop of the standings. The Reds had a better start to the game with Vassilis Spanoulis becoming the fourth player to 2,500 Euroleague points in the first six minutes of the game, but Laboral used triples from Fabien Causeur and Thomas Heurtel to go in front, and never relinquish the lead. The hosts led 44-37 at halftime, then opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run with Tornike Shengelia and Davis Bertans leading the charge, and the margin never dropped below 10 points the rest of the way. Heurtel netted 18 points, and Bertans had 17 in victory. Shengelia scored 14, while Mirza Begic collected 12 points, 7 boards and 3 blocks, and Fernando San Emeterio also scored 12 in victory. Spanoulis finished with 27 points for the Reds, and Bryant Dunston scored all 12 of his points in the first half. 

First quarter: Laboral hits from long range to jump in front 

A pair of big blocks from Shengelia and Colton Iverson opened the contest, before Spanoulis opened the scoring after two minutes with a layup and in the process becoming the fourth all-time leading scorer of the competition. Davis Bertans hit from downtown to end a three-minute scoreless run for the home team, but Vangelis Mantzaris went all the way for the visitors and Bryant Dunston scored underneath after a feed from Spanoulis. Shengelia answered with a spin move on the other end, before Spanoulis reached another milestone, 2,500 points in his Euroleague career, by sinking a three-pointer from the corner after six minutes for a 7-9 edge. Heurtel copied him right away, before Dunston's jumper kept Olympiacos ahead 10-11. Shengelia stole the ball and Causeur finished the break with a triple, before Begic was perfect from the foul line, giving Laboral a 15-11 lead. Spanoulis hit a mid-range jumper, but back-to-back three-pointers from Causeur and Heurtel raised the margin to 20-13 late in the quarter. Dimitrios Agravanis scored a jumper, after which Bertans and Othello Hunter exchanged acrobatic lay-ups for 22-17. Begic, still perfect at the free throw line, made it 24-17 after 10 minutes. 

Second quarter: San Emeterio and Vujacic keep the hosts ahead

Spanoulis drained 3 free throws cutting the deficit, but Begic turned the baseline to make a huge two-handed dunk. Olympiacos reacted with a floater from Kostas Sloukas, and a powerful baseline dunk by Tremmell Darden, before San Emeterio scored a short jumper made Laboral the first team in competition history to 25,000 points. A three-pointer from Sloukas got Olympiacos within 30-29, but Sasha Vujacic hit from mid range to keep the home team in charge. San Emeterio got hot, scoring from the foul line and adding a deep three for a 37-31 lead. Dunston made a slam, but Kim Tillie was aggressive on the other end to score inside. Spanoulis and Heurtel both scored short jumpers for a 42-35 lead and after Dunston added another slam, Vujacic finished the scoring in the half at 44-37. 

Third quarter: Laboral pulls away behind 9-0 run 

Shengelia made a steal and dished it to Heurtel for an easy fastbreak layup to start the half and spark a Laboral run. Bertans drove for a layup, before Shengelia found Causeur on another fast break for a wide-open triple. After a timeout, Shengelia went coast-to-coast to make it 53-37. Spanoulis made a short jumper to snap the 9-0 run. Agravanis fought for a put-back, but Shengelia scored 4 more points, and Heurtel banked in a runner to make it 60-42. Hunter scored from close range for the Reds, but Bertans sank a three and Begic made a layup, helping the margin reach 20. Spanoulis drove for a layup, and Oliver Lafayette finished a fast break to cut the margin, forcing the hosts to call a timeout. In the final minute of the quarter, Begic had a pair of offensive boards that led to a layup, before Agravanis drove for a layup that made it 68-52. 

Fourth quarter: Hosts close it out 

San Emeterio got things going in the quarter, but with a basket-plus-foul from Darden and a triple from Lafayette the visitors came within 70-59. But Bertans nailed another one from downtown as both defenses held their own, keeping the game scoreless for two and a half minutes. Shengelia made a pair of free throws, before Spanoulis and Bertans traded layups to make it 77-61. Spanoulis drove for an acrobatic reverse layup-plus-free throw, but Shengelia got to the free throw line again, sinking both and not allowing Olympiacos to gain ground. Olympiacos was within 79-66 with three minutes to go, but Heurtel was on six trips to the free throw line after a pair of technical fouls, and Begic made a put-back as the game came to its end.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Euroleague.net

Άνετος και ωραίος...

Το τελικό 69-79 δεν αντιπροσωπεύει την εικόνα του αγώνα, καθώς η νίκη του Παναθηναϊκού ήρθε πολύ άνετα έναντι της Τουρόφ, αφού το ματς 2-3 λεπτά πριν τη λήξη έφτασε μέχρι και τους 23 πόντους υπέρ των πράσινων. 

Μεγάλο ματς με ρεκόρ καριέρας στην Ευρωλίγκα από τον Μαυροκεφαλίδη με 21 πόντους (5/6 διπ. - 1/1 τριπ. - 8/8 βολές), ενώ είχε 6 ριμπ. - 2 ασίστ και 1 κλέψιμο με PIR 30!

Ενώ αρχικά βρέθηκε πίσω στο σκορ, ο Παναθηναϊκός εκμεταλλευόμενος την εμπειρία του, πήρε πολλά εύκολα-χαζά φάουλ από τους Πολωνούς και πήγε στις βολές, όπου και ήταν εύστοχος.Έτσι κατάφερε να το γυρίσει και να καλύψει τη διαφορά. Εκεί προσπέρασε την Τουρόφ και ουσιαστικά έχτισε διαφορά και δεν απειλήθηκε ξανά.

Πολύ δυνατά μπήκε ο Γκιστ που πήρε τα σουτ (2π. και 3π.) και τα έβαλε, καλύπτοντας την απουσία του Φώτση. Πολύ καλό ξεκίνημα και  από τον Παππά.

Μαγικός Μαυροκεφαλίδης, σκόραρε ακατάπαυστα βλέποντας το καλάθι σαν βαρέλι, βοηθώντας την ομάδα να χτίσει διαφορά. Έπαιξε και για τον Μπατίστα, που ήταν αρνητικός απόψε και δεν μπόρεσε να μπει στο κλίμα του παιχνιδιού. Αυτός και ο Σλότερ που "έφαγε" αρκετό πάγκο απόψε.

Οι πράσινοι έπαιξαν καλές άμυνες, έκλεισαν τα ατού της Τουρόφ. Ευτύχησε, απόντος του Φώτση, τα 4αρια του (Μαυροκεγαλίδης, Γκιστ) να είναι σε καλή βραδιά, αφού η Τουρόφ ρίσκαρε και άφησε τα σουτ του Παναθηναϊκού από τη θέση αυτή, αλλά οι ψηλοί των πράσινων τα έβαλαν.

Στα highlight του αγώνα, ο αιφνιδιασμός του Σλοτερ και το alley-oop κάρφωμα του Γκιστ στο 27'.

Οι πράσινοι έκαναν το 4-2 και έθεσαν τα θεμέλια της πρόκρισης για την επόμενη φάση.

Panathinaikos grabs its first road win in Lubin 

Panathinaikos Athens improved to 4-2 in Group C by downing PGE Turow Zgorzelec 69-79 in Lubin, Poland, on Thursday. Panathinaikos grabbed its first road win in Group C while Turow dropped to 1-5. Loukas Mavrokefalidis paced the winners with 21 points. James Gist added 16 and Nikos Pappas scored 14 for Panathinaikos. Tony Taylor and Chris Wright each had 13 points to lead Turow and Damian Kulig added 11 for the hosts. Turow led midway through the first quarter. Pappas and Mavrokefalidis fueled a 0-12 run that put the Greens ahead for good, 13-20. Pappas and Gist soon gave Panathinaikos its first double-digit lead, 24-35, midway through the second quarter. Nothing changed from that moment, as Panathinaikos stayed solid at both ends, kept a safe margin all the way and sealed the outcome long before the final buzzer. 

First quarter: Pappas, Jankovic put Greens ahead 

Tony Taylor got Turow going with an acrobatic three-point play, which Ivan Zigeranovic followed with a layup for a 5-0 lead. James Gist struck from downtown, but Taylor bettered him with a layup and a fast break slam for a 9-3 Turow margin. Panathinaikos kept missing open shots and could not get Esteban Batista involved in the low post due to Zigeranovic's physical defense. Vladimir Jankovic made free throws and Dimitris Diamantidis hit a three-pointer, but Damian Kulig singlehandedly kept Turow ahead, 13-8. Nikos Pappas hit 4 of 4 foul shots and Jankovic soon gave the Greens their first lead, 13-14. Turow kept struggling to score, while Pappas and Loukas Mavrokefalidis boosted their team's lead to 13-20, after a 0-12 run. Michal Chylinski and Gist exchanged three-pointers and Diamantidis soon gave Panathinaikos a 19-25 edge. A corner triple by Chris Wright brought the hosts within 22-25 after 10 minutes. 

Second quarter: Panathinaikos gets double-digit lead 

Wright made free throws early in the quarter. An unstoppable Gist stepped up with a baseline jumper. Mavrokefalidis scored again and a catch-and-shoot triple by Gist gave Panathinaikos an 8-point lead. Turow could not find a go-to guy without Kulig on court and kept missing open shots. Meanwhile, a three-pointer by Pappas gave Panathinaikos its first double-digit margin, 24-35. Uros Nikolic tried to change things with a tip-in, which Julian Wright matched with a put-back basket. Vlad Moldoveanu struck from downtown to give Turow hope at 29-37. Batista scored down low and Diamantidis added a layup off a steal to keep the Greens way ahead. Kulig hit a jump hook off a Turow timeout, but Janis Blums did better with a triple from the corner. Chylinski stepped up with a fast break layup to bring the hosts a bit closer, 33-44, at halftime. 

Third quarter: Time for some alley-oop dunks! 

Jankovic swished a jumper immediately after the break, which Mardy Collins matched with a one-handed floater in the lane. Kulig found space for an uncontested three-pointer that brought Turow within single digits, 38-46. Gist shined with a put-back slam, but Collins quickly answered with a backdoor layup. A basket by Batista restored a double-digit Panathinaikos lead, 40-50. Turow started to miss open shots and the Greens kept full control of the game through Diamantidis. Wright provided a highlight with a high-flying alley-oop slam. Mavrokefalidis nailed his trademark mid-range jumper and an alley-oop dunk by Gist made it a 12-point game. Taylor scored in transition and bettered Mavrokefalidis's jump hook with a three-point play. Mavrokefalidis and Lefteris Bochoridis made free throws, but another alley-oop slam by Wright and a buzzer-beating jumper by Moldoveanu kept the hosts within 51-61. 

Fourth quarter: Panathinaikos seals the victory early 

Collins nailed a five-meter jumper early in the quarter, which Blums erased at the other end. Turow needed a quick comeback to return to the game and Kulig tried to ignite it with a layup. Mavrokefalidis shined with a turnaround jump hook, however, and soon added a six-meter jumper for a 55-68 Panathinaikos margin. A three-point play by Pappas sealed the outcome, 55-71, with seven minutes remaining. An unstoppable Mavrokefalidis nailed a three-pointer and free throws by Pappas made it 55-76. Jakub Karolak hit a floater, but everything was said and done already as Panathinaikos cruised to its first road win of this Euroleague season.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Euroleague.net

Νίκησε τα τρίποντα της Βαλένθια

Το 6/6 είναι γεγονός για τον Ολυμπιακό που ζορίστηκε αλλά τελικά πήρε τη νίκη στο νήμα με 77-76, καθώς το ματς μέχρι και το τελευταίο δευτερόλεπτο ήταν αμφίρροπο. Οι ερυθρόλευκοι ήταν μπροστά στην σκορ σε όλη τη διάρκεια του πρώτου ημιχρόνου, αλλά η Βαλένθια κατόρθωσε να φτάσει στο +12 στις αρχές του 4ου δεκαλέπτου, αλλά τα τρίποντά της δε στάθηκαν αρκετά για να κερδίσουν τον Ολυμπιακό, που στο τέλος με τρίποντα των Αγραβάνη, Λαφαγιέτ και Σπανούλη γύρισε το ματς και κατάφερε να πάρει τη νίκη. 

Το rotation μοιράστηκε σε όλους τους παίκτες (πλην Καββαδά και Χριστοδούλου) και σκόραραν και οι 10 που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν. Πολύ καλό παιχνίδι από τους περισσότερους πάικτες με τους Ντάνστον, Ντάρντεν και Σπανούλη να ξεχωρίζουν (είχαν και διψήφιο αριθμό πόντων). Πολύ καλός και ο Αγραβάνης που αν και όψι πολύ εύστοχος, βοήθησε πολύ στην άμυνα και στα ριμπάουντ (10) ενώ είχε και 8 πόντους.

Ο Ολυμπιακός παραλίγο να χάσει από την τελευταία ομάδα του ομίλου με σκορ 1-5 (και πλέον 1-6) και προβλημάτισε στην άμυνα που αποτελούσε το όπλο του στα προηγούμενα ματς με την έλευση του coach Σφαιρόπουλου. Κόλλησε αρκετά επιθετικά και στη ζώνη των Ισπανών που χάρη σε αυτή γύρισε το ματς υπέρ της και κατάφερε να προηγηθεί μέχρι και +12.

Ωραίες ασίστ και πάλι από Σλούκα που πρόσφερε θέαμα. Ο Λαφαγιέτ δείχνει να εμπιστεύεται το σουτ του και να δίνει λύσεις από τα 6,75.

Μεγάλη σημασία φυσικά έχει η νίκη, παρότι ήταν τυχερός αφού στο τέλος έγινε κακή άμυνα από τον Χάντερ και λίγο έλειψε να δεχτεί το σουτ και να ηττηθεί.

Highlights:

Official Euroleague Report

Spanoulis, Reds grab thrilling win, Top 16 berth 

In a game that featured all the drama a fan could want, Olympiacos Piraeus edged Valencia Basket 77-76 at the Peace & Friendship Stadium to remain undefeated in Group D and clinch a berth in the Top 16. The game featured four five changes and three ties in the last three and a half minutes and nearly saw another, but Nemanja Nedovic’s jumper that would have won the game came after the final buzzer. Vassilis Spanoulis, who scored what proved to be the game-winning free throw with 11.5 seconds left, led the hosts with 15 points and 7 assists. Bryant Dunston added 14 points, Tremmell Darden scored 11 and Dimitris Agravanis totaled 8 points and 10 rebounds. Spanoulis scored 10 first-quarter points and the Reds stretched a 10-0 run into the second to take a 33-21 lead. Valencia fought back behind Pau Ribas and closed to 45-40 at halftime. Valencia held the hosts scoreless for over four minutes in the third quarter and took the lead on a Ribas jumper. Olympiacos pulled back in front 53-49, but Bojan Dubljevic put Valencia on his back for a 1-15 run that Nemanja Nedovic capped with a steal and slam to make it 54-64 early in the fourth quarter. Olympiacos came back, took a 71-70 lead on an Oliver Lafayette three and the game stayed close through the thrilling finish. Dubljevic, Ribas and Vladimir Lucic scored 16 points apiece for Valencia, which dropped to 1-5. 

First quarter: Spanoulis pours in 10 points to lead Reds to hot start 

Dunston opened the scoring with a pair of free throws. Ribas picked up Serhiy Lishchuk’s missed free throw and scored before Guillem Vives, making his first Euroleague start, added free throws to make it 2-5. Dunston cane through in the paint, but Lucic buried an open three from the corner to put his team up 4. Vangelos Mantzaris penetrated and Lishchuk tipped in his own miss. Spanoulis got himself on the scoreboard and Darden, fouled on the break, evened the game at 10-10. Romain Sato stopped Dunston once inside, but the Reds continued feeding the big man. Sato found a cutting Lishchuk for a layup Dunston evened the score on the offensive glass at 12-12. Spanoulis drove and made an amazing circus shot to put the home team back ahead. Nedovic came in and sank a pull-up jumper to give the visitors a 15-16 edge. Brent Petway was fouled shooting a three and made the resulting 3 free throws and Spanoulis soon scored to put the hosts up 4. Dubljevic and Oliver Lafayette traded threes. Dubljevic added free throws before Spanoulis beat the buzzer for a triple and a 26-21 lead. 

Second quarter: Dunston dominates, but Ribas keeps Valencia in the picture 

Spanoulis found Darden on the break for a high-flying slam and Lafayette drained a three over Nedovic to give the hosts a double-digit lead. Dunston received a technical for “flopping,” but little changed as he dunked to cap a 10-0 run for a 33-21 advantage. A Sato steal led to a Lucic alley-oop layup, but Dunston’s dunk at the other end kept the momentum with the hosts. Kreso Loncar sank a jumper and Vives added a three-point play for bring Valencia within 35-28. Darden got a lucky bounce to make a three at the other end. Dunston played a big role on the glass at both ends to keep the hosts in total control. Ribas hit an important three for Valencia and Sato added a jumper to claw within 7. Agravanis fought for an offensive rebound and layup, but Ribas countered with a jumper. Spanoulis dished to Dunson for another slam, however a Sato three trimmed the deficit to 44-38. Ribas penetrated for a layup to make it 45-40 at the break. 

Third quarter: Dubljevic fuels 1-11 run as Valencia pull in front 

Dunston scored and drew a foul to reassert his presence on the second half. Vives drained a three to bring Valencia within 4. Then Dubljevic muscled his way inside for a pair of baskets to even the score at 47-47. Ribas sank a jumper in transition to give Valencia the lead. Darden put back his own miss to end a four-minute Olympiacos scoring drought. Petway and Othello Hunter each dunked to push the Reds in front 53-49. Dubljevic netted free throws and finished again inside to make it 54-53. Dubljevic passed from the low post to Lucic for a three and then banked in a shot. Ribas beat the third-quarter buzzer to make it 54-60. 

Fourth quarter: Drama till the final buzzer

Nedovic made his mark on the game with steal and a slam… And then another steal and dunk to make it a 10-point game. Kostas Sloukas came alive for the hosts with a score and then a steal and assist to Hunter for a slam. A Ribas triple made it 58-67. Agravanis scored on the offensive glass and Spanoulis drew Vives’s fifth foul and split free throws to get within 6. Luke Harangody was called for an unsportsmanlike foul trying to stop Sloukas on the break. After Sloukas free throws, Lucic hit a big three to make it 63-70. Spanoulis fed Hunter for a slam and Agravanis drew Olympiacos within 68-70 with a triple. Then Lafayette drained another as Olympiacos regained the lead. Lucic free throws put Valencia back up 1. After Sloukas free throws, it was 73-72. Dubljevic netted a three with 44 seconds remaining to give the visitors control. After a timeout, Spanoulis buried a deep three with 36 seconds to go. Ribas split free throws to tie the game at 76-76 with 25 seconds left. Spanoulis drew a foul and split free throws with 11.5 seconds on the clock. Nedovic raced downcourt and missed a layup, but the visitors got the ball for one last out-of-bounds play with 1.3 seconds left, but did not get what would have been the game-winning shot off in time.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Euroleague.net

Ελληνική βραδιά στην Ευρωλίγκα...

ΕΡΥΘΡΟΣ ΑΣΤΕΡΑΣ - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ

Ο Ολυμπιακός παρά τον τραυματισμό - απουσία του Λοτζέσκι, κατάφερε να επικρατήσει του Ερυθρού Αστέρα στο Βελιγράδι με 57 - 62. 

Ο νέος coach του Ολυμπιακού κ. Σφαιρόπουλος έδωσε έμφαση στην άμυνα που ουσιαστικά ήταν και το κλειδί για τη νίκη. Στα αξιοσημείωτα, ο Ντάρντεν έκανε το ντεμπούτο στην Ευρωλίγκα φέτος παίζοντας 5΄ και φυσικά βρήκε χρόνο συμμετοχής ελέω των απουσιών ο Κατσίβελης, ο οποίος αν και δεν σκόραρε, έπαιξε πολύ καλές άμυνες (και προσωπικές πάνω στον Γουίλιαμς που τελικά έμεινε στους 7 π.) και συνέβαλε και αυτός στη νίκη του Ολυμπιακού, που κόλλησε επιθετικά στο 4ο δεκάλεπτο και γενικά είχε άσχημα ποσοστά με 35% στα δίποντα και 38% στα δίποντα. Μετράει φυσικά η νίκη και το 4/4.

Ουσιαστικοί οι Μάντζαρης, Πέτγουεϊ, ο Ντάνστον βρίσκει σιγά σιγά ρυθμό και έπαιξε πολύ περισσότερο από τον Χάντερ. Βελτιωμένος και ο Αγραβάνης, πήρε το χρόνο του και ο Λαφαγιέτ. Μοιράστηκε ο χρόνος και το σκοράρισμα με τον Σπανούλη να είναι πρώτος σκόρερ με 14 π. 

Official Euroleague Report

Olympiacos holds off late Zvezda charge for road win

Olympiacos Piraeus remained undefeated after holding off a late Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade charge for a 57-62 victory at Kombank Arena in the Serbian capital. The game appeared to be in Olympiacos’s hands with a 14-point lead entering the fourth quarter. However the home team rallied to get within 2 twice. In the end, October bwin MVP Vassilis Spanoulis sank 3 free throws in the final 20.1 seconds to seal the Reds’ fourth victory in Group D. Spanoulis finished with 14 points and Bryant Dunston added 11, while teenager Dimitrios Agravanis recorded 8 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. Boban Marjanovic led the home team with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Nikola Kalinic and Jaka Blazic scored 10 apiece in defeat as Zvezda fell to 2-2. 

First quarter: Hosts fall behind, use 9-0 run to climb in front 

Nemanja Dangubic’s steal led to a Branko Lazic layup for the game’s first points. Olympiacos got going on a three-pointer from Agravanis. The youngster rose high on defense for a pair of blocks before Oliver Lafayette and Vassilis Spanoulis each connected from downtown to put the Reds up 2-9. Dunston rejected Nemanja Dangubic, but before long Kalinic turned a Spanoulis turnover into a slam. Vangelos Mantzaris followed Agravanis on the break and put in the latter’s miss to make it 5-11. Luka Mitrovic added a nifty layup underneath and Marcus Williams drove to the hoop to bring the hosts within 2. Brent Petway rose to reject Marjanovic, but Mitrovic’s hook shot tied the score. Jaka Blazic pulled up for a three to cap a 9-0 Zvezda run. Lafayette’s short jumper made it 14-13 through 10 minutes. 

Second quarter: Reds reel off 13 straight points to take control 

Petway found Othello Hunter down low for a two-handed slam. Kostas Sloukas attacked the basket for a layup that put Olympiacos up 15-17. Petway and Tremmell Darden each added threes to complete a 0-10 charge that quieted the arena. After a timeout, Zvezda responded with a Charles Jenkins jumper. Maik Zirbes became a weapon with free throws and then a score on the offensive glass to bring the hosts within 21-23. Dunston took charge with a pair of baskets inside sandwiched around a blocked shot on the defensive end. Sloukas hit a long jumper to put the Reds up 21-29 midway through the quarter. A Zvezda timeout did not change much. Dunston scored free throws and a layup before a Mantzaris triple capped a 0-13 charge. Marjanovic ended a lengthy Zvezda drought with a three-point play, but Dunston kept Olympiacos in charge with an offensive rebound and foul shot. Dangubic scored on the offensive glass to make it 26-37 at halftime. 

Third quarter: Spanoulis, Dunston propel Olympiacos 

After a scoreless minute and a half, Mitrovic stole the ball from Spanoulis and assisted to Lazic. Petway connected from downtown to extend the Olympiacos lead to 12. Marjanovic scored inside, but the Reds continued to up the ante with a three from Agravanis, 31-43. Missed free throws hindered Zvezda’s comeback hopes. Spanoulis buried a three to put Olympiacos up by 15. Williams tried to revive the hosts with a three-pointer and Marjanovic rejected Sloukas. Olympiacos continued attacking as Spanoulis fed Dunston in the paint for a wicked slam. Agravanis muscled his way inside to make it 34-50. Kalinic scored the only basket in the final minute to make it 36-50. 

Fourth quarter: Furious Zvezda rally sets up close finish 

Kalinic recorded a basket-plus-foul only to see Spanoulis sink a three at the other end. Marjanovic dunked with ease. Mantzaris nailed a long jumper to protect the lead. Williams sank a jumper and Kalinic put in his own missed free throw to bring Zvezda within 45-55. The stands were shaking again after Hunter fouled out with five minutes to go. Marjanovic split free throws before Spanoulis sank a mid-range jumper at the other end. Blazic added free throws and Kalinic fed Marjanovic for a slam to get within 50-57. The arena started to shake when Blazic nailed a three to bring Zvezda within 4 with 2:25 to go. Marjanovic sank 2 free throws to cap a 9-0 surge. Kalinic fouled Petway as the Olympiacos forward attempted a three. Petway made 2 of the ensuing free throws with 1:32 remaining in regulation. Blazic made it 57-59 with a scoop shot with 25 seconds left. Zvezda fouled Spanoulis, who made the free throws. Blazic threw up a wild three that missed and Spanoulis split free throws with 11.4 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Euroleague.net

ΠΑΝΑΘΗΝΑΪΚΟΣ - ΑΡΜΑΝΙ ΜΙΛΑΝΟ

Πάρτι στήθηκε στο ΟΑΚΑ, με τον Παναθηναϊκό να κατατροπώνει την Αρμάνι Μιλάνο με 90-63, συνεχίζοντας τις καταιγιστικές του εμφανίσεις. Εξαιρετικός στην επίθεση, με την μπάλα να γυρίζει ωραία και να βρίσκει τα ελεύθερα σουτ και τα drive, γεμάτος ενέργεια στην άμυνα που με δυναμικά heads out στα σκριν και τις γρήγορες περιστροφές, δεν άφησε πολλά περιθώρια στην πολύ κακή Αρμάνι. Χωρίς να θέλουμε να μειώσουμε την εμφάνιση του Παναθηναϊκού, κάθε άλλο, η άμυνα της Αρμάνι ήταν παιδική και αδυνατούσε να σταματήσει του πράσινους. Ο Μπατίστα, χάραμα ει δέστε και απόψε, δεν είχε αντίπαλο κάτω από το καλάθι και γενικά οι παίκτες του Παναθηναϊκού δεν δυσκολεύονταν ιδιαίτερα να σκοράρουν με οποιονδήποτε τρόπο.

Στα θετικά, ο αρκετά βελτιωμένος Ράιτ που φαίνεται να μπαίνει στο κλίμα της ομάδας και να ξεδιπλώνει σιγά σιγά και τις αρετές του. Αξιοσημείωτη και η επιστροφή του Μαυροκεφαλίδη που έρχεται να προστεθεί στην τριπλέτα των ψηλών και θα χρειαστεί στην πορεία της διοργάνωσης που έχει πολλά ματς ακόμα.. 

Ο Ιβάνοβιτς βλέποντας ότι η ομάδα του ξέφυγε και το σκορ και ουσιαστικά δεν επρόκειτο να απειληθεί , στο 4ο δεκάλεπτο εμπιστεύτηκε στο παρκέ τους νεότερους που βέβαια δεν έπεισαν 100%, αλλά είναι σημαντικό να παίρνουν λεπτά συμμετοχής. Για ακόμα μια φορά απογοήτευσε ο αγχωμένος Μποχωρίδης που δέχτηκε πίεση και έκανε και λάθος επιλογές (ήταν ο μόνος με αρνητικό Ranking). 

Τι να πει κανείς για το Διαμαντίδη... Σε 25' χωρίς να υπερβάλει, οργάνωσε άριστα, μοίρασε 8 ασίστ με 1/1 τρίποντο και 3/3 βολές, μαζεύοντας και 7 ριμπάουντ. Όλοι οι παίκτες είχαν πολύ καλή απόδοση και με τέτοια εμφάνιση η νίκη ήρθε αβίαστα...

Official Euroleague Report

Panathinaikos cruises past EA7 Milan at home 

Panathinaikos Athens solidified second place in Group B of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague with a 90-63 wire-to-wire victory at home over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Esteban Batista led the way for the Greens with 15 points in pushing the team to a 3-1 record. A.J. Slaughter and Nikos Pappas both added 11 points and Dimitris Diamantidis chipped in six points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Milan dropped to 1-3 in the group despite Samardo Samuels scoring 18 points, Joe Ragland hitting for 13 and Marshon Brooks adding 11 points. Daniel Hackett scored eight of his nine points in the fourth quarter while Alessandro Gentile went scoreless – the duo having combined for 24.0 points per game coming into the contest. 

1st quarter: Red shot start by Panathinaikos sparked by Giankovits, Diamantidis 

Panathinaikos coach Dusko Ivanovic sent out the same starting five as last week in Diamantidis, Slaughter, Vlantimir Giankovits, Antonis Fotsis and Batista. Milan boss made one change with Linas Kleiza starting instead of Nicolo Melli alongside Ragland, Hackett, Gentile and Samuels. Giankovits started the game with a three-pointer and was matched by Ragland from the left corner. Diamantidis and Fotsis followed with three-balls and Slaughter nailed a long two before Batista put back his own miss to make it 13-5 early. Samuels moved down the baseline for a dunk and his second basket. Panathinaikos continued its superb start with Giankovits feeding Fotsis for a dunk and then dropping another three-pointer, missing the extra free throw which could have completed the four-point play, but giving the hosts their first double digit lead 18-7. Hackett temporarily stopped the bleeding with a free throw after a technical foul for flopping by Diamantidis. The Panathinaikos veteran came back and made two foul shots himself and then fed Julian Wright with a long pass for a layup and a 22-8 advantage. Samuels tried to keep Milan in the game with a putback basket and Ragland knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing to get the guests within 23-13 after one quarter. 

2nd quarter: Batista scores 11 points in final six minutes of quarter 

The second quarter started the same way – with a Panathinaikos three-pointer, this time by Janis Blums to push the margin to 26-13. Ragland got Milan on the board and Brooks’ two foul shots trimmed the gap to single digits at 26-17. After a Wright putback, Shawn James split two free throws and then Ragland hit a three-ball just about from Italy, getting the guests to within 28-21 and forcing coach Ivanovic to call a time-out. After the hosts could not convert on its first possession, David Moss drained a trey from the right corner as Milan was as close as 28-24. Milan went the next two minutes without a point and the gap was back out to 35-24 as Batista sandwiched two baskets around another Blums trey. Brooks’ offensive rebound and putback snapped the scoring drought but Batista dunked after a fine give-and-go with Diamantidis and then somehow got an acrobatic shot to fall and completed the three-point play for a 40-26. Batista’s next basket made it 42-28 before Samuels and James Gist swapped dunks at the end of the first half, which ended with Panathinaikos ahead 44-30. 

3rd quarter: Slaughter, Pappas, Wright help hosts pull away 

Milan gave up the ball to start the second half with Giankovits getting the steal and going up for a breakaway dunk. Slaughter added two free throws and Fotsis hit a nice layup for a 50-30 lead and a Milan timeout. Slaughter’s floater increased the cushion to 52-30 before Brooks finally got the guests on the board with a free throw after more than two minutes of action. Samuels followed with a basket but Slaughter answered with a three-ball and Diamantidis and Batista combined for three free throws and a 58-33 advantage. Milan did manage the next five points but Pappas came on for four straight free throws, Wright scored five points, Gist threw down an impressive rebound dunk and Pappas ended the third quarter with a driving layup for a 71-43 cushion. 

4th quarter: Greens reserves don’t let up 

Ragland started the fourth quarter and Hackett made two free throws to bring the guests within 71-47. Blums knocked down a jumper and Gist hit a hook to re-establish the 28-point lead. Loukas Mavrokefalidis came on for his season debut for the Greens and even knocked down a jumper to make it 77-49. With the game well decided, Hackett did his best to limit the damage with a breakaway layup, three-pointer and one free throw to bring it to 77-55. Slaugther however threw down a dunk and Mavrokefalidis converted a three-point and Milan would not get closer than 22 points the rest of the way on a Brooks three-pointer for 82-60.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Euroleague.net

Το πήρε μόνος του...

Ο Ολυμπιακός νίκησε την Neptunas στη Λιθουανία με 81-85 χάρη στην μεγαλειώδη εμφάνιση του Βασίλη Σπανούλη που έκανε ρεκόρ καριέρας πόντων και τριπόντων στην Ευρωλίγκα με 34 π. και 6 τρίποντα. Εβδομάδα των ρεκόρ για τους Έλληνες παίκτες μας! 

Γενικά ο Ολυμπιακός δεν έπεισε, οι απουσίες του φαίνονται στον τρόπο παιχνιδιού του. Κακές άμυνες, αργές επιστροφές. Πολλά τρίποντα, πρωτοφανές για Ολυμπιακό. Κόλλησε σε πολλά σημεία στην επίθεση, δεν είχε καλή κυκλοφορία καθώς η μπάλα σπάνια περνούσε από το 5. Ο Ντάσνστον αρκέστηκε σε πολλά σκριν-πικ εν ρολ ελευθερώνοντας έτσι τα γκαρντ της ομάδας για πολλά σουτ. Στηρίχτηκε στις ατομικές επιλογές των παικτών του και σε προσωπικές ενέργειες κυρίως με Σπανούλη που έκανε εξαιρετικό ματς και αγωνίστηκε για 41+ λεπτά. 

Κακό μπάσκετ για τον Ολυμπιακό, καιρό είχαμε να δούμε τέτοια εικόνα της ομάδας. Χαρακτηριστικά εκτέλεσε περισσότερα τρίποντα από δίποντα (34-31) δείγμα της κακής επιθετικής λειτουργίας. Τελικά μίλησε η πείρα και η πιο έμπειρη ομάδα καθάρισε το ματς στην παράταση.

Spanoulis's career-best effort keeps Olympiacos undefeated 

In an outstanding showdown that went down to the wire, Olympiacos Piraeus stayed undefeated in Group D by edging Neptunas Klaipeda 81-85 in overtime on the road on Friday. Olympiacos improved to 3-0 atop Group D, while Neptunas dropped to 1-2. Former Euroleague MVP Vassilis Spanoulis paced the winners with a career-high 34 points – 17 of them in the fourth quarter and overtime. Kostas Sloukas added 13 while Bryant Dunston and Matt Lojeski each had 10 for Olympiacos. Deividas Gailius led Neptunas with 16 points. Donatas Zavackas scored 14, Simas Galdikas and Mustafa Shakur each had 13 while Martynas Mazeika got 11 for the hosts. Galdikas also hauled in 11 rebounds. Gailius and Galdikas shined early to give Neptunas a 12-9 lead. Spanoulis and Lojeski stepped up to give Olympiacos a 15-17 edge after 10 minutes. A 0-7 run which Brent Petway capped with an alley-oop slam made it a double-digit game, 17-27. Mustafa Shakur and Gailius brought Neptunas within 30-36, but a buzzer-beating driving layup by Spanoulis fixed the halftime score at 30-38. Gaulius led a 7-0 run that brought Neptunas back in the game and hit free throws for a 47-46 edge. Spanoulis and Kostas Sloukas stepped up for Olympiacos, but a layup by Mindaugas Girdziunas tied it at 55-55 through three quarters. Neptunas led 70-65 with less than four minutes remaining, but an outstanding Spanoulis put Olympiacos back ahead, 74-76. A big basket by Zavackas forced overtime at 76-76. It all came down to the final seconds of the extra period, as Shakur missed a free throw at 81-82 and Petway and Sloukas sealed the outcome from the foul line. 

First quarter: Olympiacos shakes off slow start 

Simas Galdikas got Neptunas going with a layup and a dunk by Deividas Gailius soon gave the hosts a 4-1 lead. Othello Hunter fed Dimitris Agravanis for an easy basket, as Olympiacos adjusted its man-to-man defense. A three-pointer by Matt Lojeski gave the Reds their first lead, 4-6. Galdikas scored around the basket and a driving layup by Martynas Mazeika put Neptunas back ahead, 8-6. Olympiacos committed 5 turnovers in as many minutes, but another triple by Lojeski restored an 8-9 edge. Gailius scored in transition and another layup by Galdikas ignited the crowd at 12-9. Oliver Lafayette struck from downtown off a timeout and a fast break basket by Vassilis Spanoulis saw Olympiacos regain the lead, 12-14. Mindaugas Girdziunas made free throws, which Spanoulis bettered with an off-balance three-pointer. A free throw by Egidijus Dimsa kept Neptunas within 15-17 after 10 minutes. 

Second quarter: Reds improve offense, surge ahead 

Spanoulis struck again from downtown early in the quarter. Dimsa made free throws, but Brent Petway did better with a three-pointer to boost the guests' lead to 17-23. Kostas Sloukas found Bryant Dunston for a close basket and soon fed Petway for an alley-oop dunk that caused Neptunas to call timeout at 17-27. Mustafa Shakur followed free throws with a five-meter jumper to bring Neptunas closer, 21-28. Sloukas answered from downtown, before Mazeika and Galdikas split foul shots. Shakur kept the hosts within 25-31. Agravanis sank a triple from the left wing, which Lojeski followed with a catch-and-shoot jumper to restore a double-digit Olympiacos lead, 26-36. Shakur shined with a fast break layup and Gailius added a big dunk in traffic to bring the crowd to its feet. A driving layup by Spanoulis fixed the halftime score at 30-38. 

Third quarter: Neptunas rallies to get back in the game game

Gailius downed a corner three immediately after the break and a fast break layup by Shakur brought Neptunas back to life at 35-38. Olympiacos could not find the way to score and a fast break basket by Gailius saw the Reds call timeout at 37-38. Dunston stepped up with a three-point play and matched Galdikas's layup with a two-handed slam, good for a 39-43 Olympiacos edge. Spanoulis buried a wide open three-pointer, which Gailius matched with a big shot from downtown. Donatas Zavackas joined the three-point shootout and free throws by Gailius completed the hosts' comeback at 47-46. Spanoulis banked in an off-balance shot, which Dimsa erased with a mid-range jumper. Sloukas hit foul shots and Spanoulis soon gave his team fresh air at 49-52. Zavackas nailed foul shots and added a jumper. Even after Sloukas struck from way downtown, a buzzer-beating layup by Girdziunas tied the game at 55-55. 

Fourth quarter: Down to a final shot

Spanoulis scored in penetration early in the quarter. Mazeika bettered him with a three-pointer that gave Neptunas a 58-57 edge. Mazeika stayed hot with a wild layup-plus-foul. Agravanis split free throws and a close basket by Galdikas made it a 5-point game. Sloukas followed a mid-range shot with free throws to keep Olympiacos within 63-62. Zavackas fired in one from downtown, but Spanoulis also hit one from beyond the arc. Galdikas dunked, as Neptunas improved its defense right when it mattered most. Free throws by Butkevicius restored a 70-65 Neptunas edge with less than four minutes remaining. After Petway made free throws, Butkevicius scored again and a jumper by Lojeski kept Olympiacos as close as 72-69. Spanoulis nailed a critical triple, but free throws by Mazeika gave Neptunas the lead, 74-72. After Dunston hit foul shots, Gailius missed a driving shot and Spanoulis gave Olympiacos a 74-76 edge with 38.2 seconds left. Zavackas shined with a second-chance layup to tie the game, 76-76, and Dunston missed from downtown at the buzzer.

Overtime: Spanoulis wins it 

Spanoulis struck from downtown early in overtime, as Olympiacos improved its intensity on defense. The Reds forced a 24-second turnover, but Petway missed twice from downtown. A jump hook by Zavackas made it 78-79 with less than three minutes left. Spanoulis nailed a stop-and-pop jumper and a fast break layup by Shakur saw Olympiacos call timeout at 80-81 with 51 seconds left. Petway missed from downtown, but Mazeika committed a turnover. A free throw by Spanoulis gave Olympiacos an 80-82 edge with 12.2 seconds left. Shakur drew a foul, but missed his second attempt, which would have tied the score. Neptunas fouled Petway, who made free throws for an 81-84 score with 3.9 seconds remaining. Neptunas turned it over, allowing Olympiacos to return home with a valuable road win.

Friday, October 31, 2014

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