Efi 8-0, the last defeat in the … OAKA and the link!
Euroleague play offs will start tonight with two matches. Initially at 20:45 Fenerbahce will welcome Paris for Game 1 in Turkey. Correspondingly, shortly thereafter (21:30) Panathinaikos will host Anadolu Efes in the crowded OAKA, with the aim of 1-0 and the first step in qualifying for Abu Dhabi’s Final Four.
The focus of this couple? But who else? Ergkin Ataman. The Turkish coach is called upon to lead European champions to a Final Four for a second consecutive season. And this is called upon to do so against the team with which he has won two trophies in the top cross -country competition. Ataman is undoubtedly the leading technician in the history of the Turkish club.
In addition to Ataman’s relationships with Ephesus, the whole of Luca Banki has a lot to put on the … table. After all, he is the most molded team in the event. Ever since the Italian technician took over, the « blue » has been on the rise, with their indicators not reminiscent of a sixth position team, but a championship team. Their Euroleague wins series is impressive 8-0.
Last defeat? She at the OAKA for the 26th Regular Season match on February 6th, with the impressive 104-89. Since then only wins for the Banky players, but now they are back in Athens and have to break the « clover » headquarters if they want to have hopes of qualifying in the Final Four.
Her impressive numbers
Although Anadolu Ephesus completed the regular season in 6th place, its indicators are much more. He was 2nd in points per 100 possessions with 122.1 (behind only Panathinaikos) and 7th in points per 100 possessions with 115.2. So her net rating was at +6.9 which was the top league. All this playing on 71 possessions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B4AZXLD5UW
At the same time he shot better than the rest of the Euroleague being the most effective in scoring with 62.2% True Shooting and the most effective in 58.7% EFG shoots, even scoring 1.17 points per shot. At the same time it was 3rd in total rebounds, lowering 51.9% of the available and 4th in aggressively securing 33.5% of the available.
What should Panathinaikos expect from Ephesus
Ephesus is a team that likes to shoot quite a lot from the top and less from the corners, and does not use the corners so much. At the same time, it bases the picn of roll with creators such as Darius Thompson, Elijah Bryant, Sheen Larkin and tall such as Vinusan Poire and Daniel Otourou. The first three have the most assists with 124, 95, 91 respectively, and the last two have received the most with 96 and 77 respectively.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vebr5oftxgi
He may be in excellent condition in the last ten games, but for some reason he has been in sixth place despite the previous indicators. Although she shoots well as a team and has second opportunities with aggressive rebounds, as we have seen, Ephesus has her weakest points. It is a set that is average in mistakes, giving 17% of its attacks, and if it is difficult from afar it cannot easily find scoring.
It is characteristic that for 100 shots it performs 26.4 FTA Rate with the average league being 30.
Nevertheless, it remains a very dangerous team. It does not have a depth, but its first choices are capable of… executing any opponent in its path. But if Panathinaikos restricts its desire, then he will hardly be able to threaten him and leave him out of the Final Four.
