Just when we thought we had all the answers, he went and changed the question. Ergin Ataman delivered a most on-brand response after Panathinaikos lost Game 1 of the Greek finals to Olympiacos. With his future questionable, to put it mildly, he once again set about setting the table for his next act. Emmet Ryan says call him what you want but the irascible coach is determined to be the master of his fate.
Olympiacos, by any reasonable measure the best team in European basketball, did what they were supposed to do on Wednesday night. Ergin Ataman, the under-fire head coach of Panathinaikos, did what we expected him to do.
His three seasons in Athens have been theatrical, albeit to a varied response from critics. Yet here he is, potentially coaching his final season with the Greens, and still leaning into the full Atamania we all know. The critics be damned. Ergin Ataman is going to do this his way.
The actual game
This really should not have been a contest. It was oddly reminiscent of the win Olympiacos enjoyed over Fenerbahce in the semi-final on their way to lifting the Euroleague title. The Reds were just plain better and the scoreboard reflected it.
Then Panathinaikos decided these Greek finals were no fait accompli. The Greens roared back to life with a furious comeback to get right back into it. In the SEF, they found a way to rally and scare Olympiacos fans at home like few teams have this season.
Of course, it was all for nought. The Reds got the win and, in all honesty, deservedly so. Yet not if you live in Ergin Ataman’s world. The Panathinaikos coach was quick to point to the free throw disparity afterwards, before quickly contending that all journalists will obviously side against him. It was nothing we didn’t expect. Yet it still got people awfully angry.
BallinEurope is ramping up its YouTube game this season. Subscribe to our channel now for player exclusives, analysis videos, and much more.
Remember who we’re talking about here
Maybe I spend too much time on Reddit but, seriously, come on. What else did you expect from Ergin Ataman after Panathinaikos lost to Olympiacos? Did you really think we’d get a calm and orderly Greek finals?
This is a man for whom the theatrics are part of the package, for good and bad. The guy that takes on this bunker mentality is the same one that got into it with Nolan Smith 12 years ago. He’s also the guy that guided Besiktas, when they weren’t what they are now, to a mini-treble. The league and cup double domestically coupled with Eurochallenge was no small feat.
Does the era of ‘Cool Efes’ happen without Ergin Ataman? The players were there but would they have been given the combination of freedom and order required. The same can be said about the Euroleague title he won with Panathinaikos. They adopted the us against the world mentality, with Ataman shouldering it, and ended a 12 year wait. The character is fundamental to his success as a coach.
BallinEurope has a book, a real life actual book called I Like it Loud, and you can buy it on Amazon now. It’s here as a book and here in Kindle form.
You don’t have to like him
Heck, you don’t even have to respect him. Just don’t underestimate him. The day before the Greek finals started, Eurohoops reported that Zeljko Obradovic was being wooed to replace him as head coach of Panathinaikos. Yet here he is, fighting the most ridiculous cases for his team in press conferences.
It’s not bad for a man who is basically a Galatasaray football fan that happens to be employed to coach basketball. Ergin Ataman isn’t just thinking about the Olympiacos he faces now. He’s full Rowdy Roddy Piper. The coach who, let us not forget, brought his nation to the brink of winning EuroBasket last September, is keeping everyone guessing.
Until he gets his pink slip, he’s showing that he works his backside off to find every advantage he can. Granted, he’s somewhat parked himself in an odd corner. He either has to get a NBA job (that would be Broadway grade) or win a fourth Euroleague title. That’s the only way this story ends well. Ataman isn’t thinking about the end. He’s focused on making sure it continues on his terms.
Leave a Reply