Final Four
- May 06, 2007
- O.A.K.A.
Local time: 9:30 PM
TV
CET: 8:30 PM
|
Head Coaches
|
|
OBRADOVIC, ZELJKO
|
|
Panathinaikos head coach
|
|
|
“I'm very happy to be one more time in the final. I'm very happy to have the opportunity to play the final game here in our court. We know we will have many fans here, but we play five on five just like our opponent. CSKA has only two new players and is totally different than two years ago. I remember when Ettore started how they play and how they play now. For us, CSKA is a very big target to beat in the final. I watched last night yesterday's game and it is difficult to find a way to win.”
“It's not true [that I am undefeated at OAKA]. We lost a cup final against AEK. It's true I have won many games here. It has nothing to do with this. We have our possibilities same as CSKA. It's good here. I feel good and it's real important for us and the players to have our fans, but its five on five and our players must show that they are good. The teams play, not only Papaloukas and Diamantidis. They are very important players. We will try to prepare all the players to play their very best game.”
“This has nothing to do with Final five years ago. New teams, different players, this, that... Like what Ettore says, every day we get a little bit older.”
|
|
|
|
MESSINA, ETTORE
|
|
CSKA Moscow head coach
|
|
|
“Like last year when we lost David [Andersen], this year we lost another David. Even if Oscar helped a lot, you have to understand that for us, it's an accomplishment to be in the Final Four and to make the final game without our top leader. I think Panathinaikos has played excellent basketball, especially after changing so many players. They played well from the beginning and they only lost Euroleague games when already the games meant nothing. They have a lot of depth, an excellent coach and they play on their homecourt. We have a different team; we are shorter than them. It should be an excellent game, with all their fans pushing them, as Dejan Tomasevic said after last night's semifinal. And it's going to be a difficult game."
"It's true of both teams that we can play much better on offense. I don't know if it's the pressure, but there were a lot of lost balls and bad shots. The balls were new, and honestly I am surprised that we would play such important games with new basketballs. The shooting yesterday was bad. Anyway, at this level, turnovers mean a lot, and the team that loses the ball more on Sunday will have less options, just as the team that can move the ball better will have more chances."
“What Zelimir said then in Bologna was that if you go out and ask anyone on the street who will win the game, they will say Bologna. And Panathinaikos won. I am sure if you go out now to Syntagma Square, no one will say CSKA, unless they are wearing a red shirt.”
“For sure Papaloukas and Diamantidis are important, but I don't know. Usually in these games, you have some surprises. Some player that didn't play good the day before plays better. Both teams are ready to try their best.”
“I for sure remember [2002 Final from Bologna]. We lost. When you win, you have good memories and when you lose, not so good memories. It's different situation now. We're older. What is gone is gone. You can't change it.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
One of the big basketball games worldwide is ready to be played on Sunday when CSKA Moscow will defend its Euroleague title against Panathinaikos in a highly-anticipated final at Athens Olympic Indoor Hall (OAKA) in the Greek capital. CSKA only lost two games in the entire Euroleague season and arrives to the final with the chance to win consecutive Euroleague titles for the first team in the club's already legendary history. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos is in its first Euroleague final since 2002, when it won the title against Kinder Bologna. Both teams used outstanding defense to get where they are, not only throughout the season, but also in the semifinals on Friday. CSKA downed Unicaja 62-50, allowing just 6 points in the fourth quarter. Trajan Langdon led the way with 13 points, David Andersen added 12 while Theo Papaloukas had an all-around game with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Meanwhile, Panathinaikos knocked off Tau Ceramica 67-53, allowing 21 points in the first half to take full control of the game for good. Sani Becirovic and Mike Batiste paced the winners each with 15 points. The Greens' main concern will be shutting down Papaloukas, last year's Final Four MVP, and coach Zeljko Obradovic has the right player to do it, none other than three-time Euroleague Defensive Player of the Year Dimitris Diamantidis. This should be the key matchup of the day. CSKA's backcourt is much more than Papaloukas, however, even when David Vanterpool is not expected to play against Panathinaikos. Combo guard J.R. Holden, sharp shooter Langdon, do-it-all forward Oscar Torres or veteran guard Zakhar Pashutin are ready to face not only Panathinaikos, but a majority of Green fans in the stands. Holden will test his skills against Tony Delk and Sani Becirovic, back in the Euroleague final for the first time since 2002, when he lost against his current team. Torres will have a big matchup against Ramunas Siskauskas, but Panathinaikos will have a deeper bench with former CSKA player Nikos Hatzivrettas or playmaker Milos Vujanic ready to contribute. CSKA has a size advantage in the paint with Aleksey Savrasenko and Thomas Van den Spiegel, whose close baskets, blocked shots and rebounds may well allow their team to win another title. Panathinaikos, however, counts on experience center Dejan Tomasevic, who will play his first Euroleague final after a long, successful career. Robertas Javtokas will also play a critical role due to his athleticism and size. CSKA will try to get Matjaz Smodis involved, as few players in the world have his combination of size, soft touch and experience. Despite his young age, Smodis is in his fifth Euroleague final with three different teams. He will go against Mike Batiste, a force of nature who could have an advantage in the low post against Smodis. Demos Dikoudis is a physical power forward whose strength and mid-range shots can make him a key player for the Greens, while Andersen had a very good semifinal game, hitting three mid-range shots right when it mattered, and he will be ready to do whatever his team needs to win. Coach Obradovic has the chance to win his sixth Euroleague title and add another one to his already legendary career. Meanwhile, CSKA boss Ettore Messina could become the first coach in history to win Euroleague titles with two different teams. Above all, it is the game of the year in Euroleague Basketball, broadcast to more than 160 countries. Enjoy the show, sit back and feel DEVOTION for the beautiful game of European basketball at its best!
 Press Conference Video:
Ettore Messina | Zeljko Obradovic ! David Andersen | Sani Becirovic
Video Interviews: Demos Dikoudis | Thomas Van den Spiegel
historic matchups | head-to-head matchups
Did you know...? Panathinaikos | Did you know...? CSKA Moscow
|
|
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Euroleague.net
|
|
Stats Comparisions: Teams and players
| 80.4 |
Pts. |
 |
BATISTE, MIKE |
12.9 |
Pts. |
13.4 |
LANGDON, TRAJAN |
 |
Pts. |
76.8 |
| 55.49 % |
2FG% |
|
BATISTE, MIKE |
67.41 % |
2FG% |
64.10 % |
SAVRASENKO, ALEKSEY |
 |
2FG% |
54.60 % |
| 37.81 % |
3FG% |
 |
SISKAUSKAS, RAMUNAS |
50.77 % |
3FG% |
50.00 % |
ANDERSEN, DAVID |
 |
3FG% |
39.29 % |
| 33.7 |
Rebounds |
|
BATISTE, MIKE |
6.1 |
Rebounds |
4.9 |
ANDERSEN, DAVID |
|
Rebounds |
32.3 |
| 12.5 |
Assist. |
 |
DIAMANTIDIS, DIMITRIS |
4.0 |
Assist. |
5.3 |
PAPALOUKAS, THEODOROS |
 |
Assist. |
15.5 |
|