On a night where he became the all-time Euroleague playoffs assist leader, Kostas Sloukas took control when it mattered most. Emmet Ryan on how the inevitable one saved the season for Panathinaikos.
That was quite the evening. While their city rivals, Olympiacos, were rampant against Barcelona it was a stressful night for Panathinaikos. With his team’s Euroleague season on the line, Kostas Sloukas stepped up big time.
He is inevitable
The odds were against them and the situation was starting to look grim. Panathinaikos trailed by 7 points in the final quarter of a Euroleague elimination game. It was time for Kostas Sloukas to go to work.
On a night where he broke the all-time assists record for the Euroleague playoffs, it was the all-round game of Sloukas that mattered most. Sloukas was ruthlessly efficient in all departments. In addition to his 6 assists, Sloukas scored 20 points on 6 of 11 shooting and was a perfect 7 of 7 at the free throw line.
On top of this were 8 rebounds, including one that felt oh so vital late in this win over Maccabi Tel Aviv. Jasiel Rivero was a menace on the offensive glass, less so his own, so when Sloukas caught one that was tipped out of Rivero’s hands in the fourth it felt decisive. The coolest customer in Euroleague was here to take care of business and nobody was going to stop him.
Control is what matters
For the most part, and entirely when it mattered, Kostas Sloukas got everything he needed from the two other key pieces for Panathinaikos. Kendrick Nunn was scoring in bunches, proving useful off the dribble or in the open. Mathias Lessort meanwhile continued his interior dominance. In addition to his 17 points, Lessort had 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.
The Frenchman has been a problem for Maccabi Tel Aviv throughout the series. He drew 9 fouls tonight and even made more than half of his free throws, an area where he has struggled greatly throughout the Euroleague playoffs.
When those two pieces deliver what Sloukas needs, it’s much easier for him to go to work. The Greens got the all round performance from Sloukas because the conditions were there for him to deliver it.
BallinEurope is ramping up its YouTube game this season. Subscribe to our channel now for player exclusives, analysis videos, and much more.
More to do offensively
The big criticism of Kostas Sloukas entering this game was that he seemed to disappear in Game 3. There was no risk of that accusation tonight but Panathinaikos will surely be worried about what they got from some other pieces.
Even great players like Kostas Sloukas can suddenly wonder mid-game if they left the heating on at home.
It wasn’t a matter of work rate but the ability to get in quality shot making positions that stood out with other players. Jerian Grant, Ioannis Papapetrou, and Marius Grigonis were frustrated repeatedly. While efficient with the shots they got for the most part, none of them were able to make themselves enough of a problem on the offensive end.
This isn’t to single out those players. It’s more a question of efficacy from the whole. The more Panathinaikos can work other threats in offensively, especially with a tight rotation, the healthier they’ll be on the whole in that respect. This seems particularly important given the breadth of offensive options at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s disposal.
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.
The job isn’t done and Sloukas knows it
Don’t tell Kostas Sloukas about history. Yes, it’s true that no road team has ever won Game 5 in the Euroleague playoffs. Somebody is going to be first. There’s no reason to assume it won’t be Maccabi Tel Aviv.
As the man with, and it’s really not close, the most experience in big games on the PAO roster it falls on Sloukas to lead off the court in the coming days. It’s a safe bet that he will but there are times to be George Patton and times to be Henry V. He can be the former for the next few days but, during Game 5, he must be the one to charge headfirst into the breach.
The Greens have been waiting a very long time to be this close to the Final Four. The OAKA will be hopping next week, no doubt. How Sloukas uses that to fuel those around him will prove crucial.
Leave a Reply