April 6, 2012 - Playoffs Game 5 bwin MVP: Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos
His
best game ever in a career full of great performances was just enough
Thursday for Dimitris Diamantidis to send defending champion
Panathinaikos Athens back to the Final Four and earn him the bwin MVP
honor for a thrilling Game 5 of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague
Playoffs. Diamantidis, the reigning Euroleague MVP, was everywhere from
the first second to the dramatic last one as Panathinaikos outlasted
Maccabi Electra 86-85 in an instant classic in front of 18,700 adoring
fans in Athens. Diamantidis stepped up with one of the best games of
his career when it was needed most. His numbers tell much of the story.
His performance index rating of 34 was a career high. He came within 1
point of a career-best in by scoring 25 to lead Panathinaikos. Read
more here.
April 5, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 5
Panathinaikos 86 - 85 Maccabi Electra
Panathinaikos will head to Istanbul
to try to defend its Turkish Airlines Euroleague crown at the 2012
Final Four after holding off Maccabi Electra 86-85 in a classic Game 5
in front of a packed house at OAKA. Euroleague MVP Dimitris Diamantidis
capped a fantastic evening with the game-winning free throw with 5
seconds remaining and then a steal on the final play to seal the
victory. Diamantidis finished with 25 points, a career-high 34
performance index rating and came within 1 of a playoffs record with 12
fouls drawn. His 15 free throws made established a new playoffs
single-game record. The Greens move on to face CSKA Moscow in the
semifinals of the Final Four next month. Read more here.
April 4, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 5 between Panathinaikos and Maccabi; Next stop Istanbul!
For
the third time since the best-of-five playoff format was adopted four
seasons ago, an all-or-nothing Game 5 will be played to determine which
of two deserving contenders advances to the Final Four. At 20:45 CET on
Thursday evening, Athens Olympic Indoor Hall will host the decisive
Game 5 of what has been a thrilling clash of Euroleague heavyweights
thus far between Panathinaikos and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv. The two
teams met in the 2011 Euroleague title game and the current series has
been a natural continuation of their fantastic rivalry. The first two
games of the series were also held in the Greek capital, where the
Greens won big in the opener before Maccabi grabbed an overtime victory
in Game 2. The defending champs are eager to become just the second
team in the past two decades to repeat as Euroleague winners. Read more
here.
March 31, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 4 bwin MVP: Andrei Kirilenko, CSKA
On
Friday, CSKA Moscow superstar Andrei Kirilenko added to a brilliant
campaign by leading his team to the 2012 Final Four with a fantastic
performance in a 71-73 road win at Gescrap BB. His 23 points and 8
rebounds equaled a performance index rating of 29, which made him the
Playoffs Game 4 bwin MVP. This is also the fourth time – and second in
the playoffs – Kirilenko has earned the distinction, which is also most
in the league. Kirilenko scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds – the
last board to clinch the win and Final Four berth for the Russian
champs. He only missed 4 shots and also dished 2 assists and had 1
steal in another impressive outing. Read more here.
March 30, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 4
Olympiacos 76 - 69 Montepaschi Siena
Olympiacos
advanced to its third Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in the
past four seasons by beating Montepaschi Siena 76-69 to secure a 3-1
series victory. Vassilis Spanoulis scored 19 points - including 10 of
10 free throws - while Kyle Hines collected 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4
blocks for Olympiacos. Georgios Printezis and Acie Law both chipped in
8 points for the winners, who grabbed 17 offensive rebounds to make up
for just 4 of 22 shooting (18%) from long range. David Andersen had 15
points and 11 rebounds for Siena, which also received 15 points from
Nikos Zisis, 11 points from Igor Rakocevic and 10 points each from Bo
McCalebb and Ksistof Lavrinovic. Siena was foiled by 14 turnovers
compared to just 7 by Olympiacos. Read more here.
Gescrap BB 71 - 73 CSKA Moscow
CSKA
Moscow survived a late challenge from Gescrap BB for a 71-73 win at
Bilbao Arena to march into the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final
Four in Istanbul with a 3-1 series win. Andrei Kirilenko starred with
23 points and 8 rebounds – the final coming with 2 seconds to go to
secure the win. Aaron Jackson rallied Gescrap from 14 down in the
fourth quarter to 70-71 in the final seconds. He then went to the line
with his team down 3 and 2.9 seconds remaining. The point guard made
the first –barely – and missed the second on purpose, but Kirilenko
rose for the rebound to seal the game and series. Ramunas Siskauskas
and Nenad Krstic added 13 each, Viktor Khryapa scored 10 and Milos
Teodosic dished 8 assists for the winners. Jackson paced the Men in
Black with 19 points and 8 assists. Read more here.
March 29, 2012
Maccabi Electra 69 - 78 Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos
came up strong when it mattered most to beat Maccabi Electra 69-78 on
Thursday at Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv, tying their best-of-five Turkish
Airlines Euroleague Playoffs series at 2-2 and forcing a decisive Game
5 next week in Athens. The game featured four lead changes in the last
five minutes, but after David Blu put the hosts up 67-66, Dimitris
Diamantidis scored 6 free throws in the final three minutes as the
defending champs outscored Maccabi 2-12 the rest of the way to claim
the victory. Panathinaikos had led for most of the game and was up 11
in the third quarter, but Maccabi always rallied back until running out
of shots down the stretch. Nick Calathes paced the Panathinaikos attack
with 15 points, former Maccabi star Sarunas Jasikevicius netted 13 and
Diamantidis and Kostas Kaimakoglou had 12 each. Read more here.
March 29, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 4: Three teams on brink of Final Four ticket!
The Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs reach 4
with six teams waiting to join FC Barcelona Regal at the 2012 Final
Four in Istanbul, Turkey. Barcelona swept its best-of-five series
against Unics and has already sealed its ticket to the Final Four for
the 12th time in club history - and the third time in four years. Three
other teams - Maccabi Electra, CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos, in
chronological order - have the chance to get to the Final Four with a
win in Game 4. In what promises to be a close, exciting, intense battle
at Nokia Arena, Maccabi hosts Panathainikos on Wednesday at 21:05 CET.
The first three games of this series already have it going down as one
of the great playoff series in Euroleague history - and Game 4 will be
no exception. Read more here.
Gescrap BB vs. CSKA Moscow 71:73
Olympiacos vs. Montepaschi 76:69
March 29, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 3 bwin MVP: Kostas Vasiliadis, Gescrap BB
In
the most important win in club history, Gescrap BB sharpshooter Kostas
Vasiliadis was the star that shined brightest. Vasiliadis drained 4 of
8 from downtown en route to 20 points as the Men in Black routed mighty CSKA Moscow
94-81 for a win in Gescrap’s first-ever playoff game at home. In
addition to the win, Vasiliadis can also celebrate being the Playoffs
Game 3 bwin MVP. He got his team going early by sparking a 12-0
first-quarter run and continued pumping in baskets the rest of the
night. Vasiliadis finished with 6 rebounds and 2 assists in racking up
the highest performance index rating of any player on a winning team in
Game 3 of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs – 21. In doing so,
Vasiliadis joined teammate Aaron Jackson as the only Gescrap players to
have achieved this distinction. Read more here.
March 28, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 3
Olympiacos 75 - 55 Montepaschi Siena
Olympiacos
Piraeus thoroughly dominated Montepaschi Siena 75-55 on Wednesday night
at Peace and Friendship Stadium to take a 2-1 lead in their
best-of-five Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs series. The Reds host
Game 4 on Friday knowing a win will send the club back to the Final
Four for the third time in four years. Kyle Hines came off the bench
for 15 points and 9 rebounds to pace Olympiacos, while Kostas Sloukas
added 11 and Acie Law tallied 10 points and 6 assists. After a close
opening quarter, Olympiacos started to build a lead in the second and
went ahead 32-21 by halftime. Then an 8-0 start to the second half
highlighted by Evangelos Mantzaris put the hosts in total control. The
lead soared as high as 29 in the fourth quarter as Olympiacos marched
to victory. Read more here.
Gescrap BB 94 - 81 CSKA Moscow
Gescrap
BB recorded its first-ever Turkish Airlines Euroleague playoffs win by
downing CSKA Moscow 94-81 in Game 3 of the best-of-five series in
Bilbao, Spain on Wednesday. CSKA has a 2-1 lead in the series but
Gescrap hosts Game 4 on Friday. Pushed by a sellout crowd of over
10,000 fans, the "Miribilla effect" allowed Gescrap to avoid
elimination and keep fighting for Euroleague glory. Kostas Vasiliadis
paced the winners with 20 points. Marko Banic added 18, Aaron Jackson
had 13 while Alex Mumbru got 12 for Gescrap. Nenad Krstic led CSKA with
22 points on 9-of-9 two-pointers. Andrei Kirilenko added 16 while
Alexey Shved had 15 for the guests. Vasiliadis shined in the first
quarter, leading a 12-0 run that allowed Gescrap to get a 25-24 lead
after 10 minutes. Read more here.
March 27, 2012
Maccabi Electra 65 - 62 Panathinaikos
Maccabi
Electra held off defending champion Panathinaikos 65-62 in another
thriller on Tuesday at Nokia Arena to take a 2-1 lead in the
best-of-five Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs series. Richard
Hendrix’s tip-in put the hosts up 3 with 15.4 seconds to go and when
Nick Calathes’s potential game-tying triple bounced out, the Maccabi
fans let out a sigh of relief. Game 4 is on Thursday on the same court
and another Maccabi win will send Coach David Blatt and co. to another
Final Four, while a Panathinaikos win sends the series back to Athens
for Game 5 next week. Maccabi never trailed thanks to a dominant start
and a 26-13 lead early in the second quarter. Read more here.
Unics 56 - 67 FC Barcelona Regal
Regal
FC Barcelona made it to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four!
Barcelona made it to the Final Four for the 12th time in club history -
his third appearance in four years - by edging Eurocup champion Unics
56-67 in Kazan, Russia in Game 3 of the playoffs on Tuesday. Barcelona
swept the best-of-five playoff series and will face either Montepaschi
Siena or Olympiacos BC in one of the Euroleague semifinals in Istanbul,
Turkey on May 11. Barcelona also registered its fifth win against Unics
in as many games this season. Juan Carlos Navarro paced the winners
with 21 points. Marcelinho Huertas had all of its 9 points in the
fourth quarter, in which Barcelona sealed the outcome. Henry Domercant
led Unics with 19 points. Terrell Lyday added 12 for the hosts. Read
more here.
March 26, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 3: CSKA, Barça on brink of Final Four ticket
On
the heels of one of the most exciting weeks in Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Playoffs history, the action returns quickly with as many as
eight games over four days with eight teams hunting for European glory!
Games 2 in three of the best-of-five series came down to the closing
minute – and in one case overtime – and were decided by a grand total
of 6 points. Now the venues change for Games 3 and – if necessary –
Games 4 as the ante gets larger from game to game. Two teams – one
Tuesday and one Wednesday – face elimination already, while their
opponents enter Game 3 knowing that a win means a series sweep and a
ticket to the 2012 Final Four in Istanbul. In the other two series,
home-court advantage has already changed hands and all four teams know
that a Game 3 loss puts them in do-or-die territory. Read more here.
March 24, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 2 bwin MVP: Andrei Kirilenko, CSKA
He
jump-started CSKA Moscow's stellar season with the first bwin MVP
weekly award way back in October. And on Friday, forward Andrei
Kirilenko celebrated what might be his team's last Turkish Airlines
Euroleague home game this season with another bwin MVP performance for
Game 2 of the playoffs. Kirilenko's splendid efforts all over the court
led CSKA to a 79-60 victory over visiting Gescrap BB of Spain and a 2-0
lead in their best-of-five series. CSKA's do-it-all small forward
starred this time with a season-high 20 points on 4-for-6 two-point and
9-for-12 free throw shooting. Read more here.
March 23, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 2
Montepaschi Siena 81 - 80 Olympiacos
Bo
McCalebb made a game- and perhaps season-saving steal at midcourt to
preserve an 81-80 Montepaschi Siena home win over Olympiacos on Friday
night and even their playoff series at one victory each. A pair of
missed free throws by Igor Rakocevic with 5.8 seconds left gave
Olympiacos the ball back, but as Georgios Printezis dribbled across
halfcourt, McCalebb came out of nowhere to steal the ball cleanly and
dribble untouched as time expired. Only then could the Siena fans, who
had seen their team lose a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 1,
breathe easily. Heading into Friday's fourth quarter, Siena led by 14
points, 67-53. Olympiacos rallied again, but saw a piece of good luck
turn bad on McCalebb's heads-up play at the finish. Read more here.
CSKA Moscow 79 - 60 Gescrap BB
CSKA
Moscow moved within one win of a trip to the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four with a 79-60 victory over Gescrap BB Friday in
the Russian capital to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five playoffs
series. The Russian champs can wrap up the series and with it a ticket
to Istanbul with a win next week when the series resumes in Bilbao,
Spain. The trio of Andrei Kirilenko, Milos Teodosic and Viktor Khryapa
starred for the hosts. Kirilenko tallied 20 points, 12 rebounds and 2
blocks, Teodosic produced 18 points and 9 assists and Khryapa added 13
points and 7 assists. Raul Lopez led Gescrap with 13 points, Aaron
Jackson netted 12 and Alex Mumbru dished out a career-high 10 assists
in defeat. Read more here.
March 22, 2012
FC Barcelona Regal 66 - 63 Unics
Barcelona
held off Unics Kazan down the stretch to win 66-63 and take a 2-0 lead
in their Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs series. The teams head to
Russia next week and Barca can clinch a spot in the 2012 Final Four
with a win. The Euroleague’s all-time leading scorer, Juan Carlos
Navarro, paced Barcelona with 18 points. Erazem Lorbek netted 14 and
Pete Mickeal 12. Nathan Jawai carried Unics with 21 points and 10
rebounds and Bostjan Nachbar scored 16. Lorbek had 5 points in an early
9-0 run that gave Barcelona an 11-2 margin. Unics managed to get within
17-13 after 10 minutes and an outstanding Nachbar helped the guests to
get the lead, 17-21. Read more here.
Panathinaikos 92 - 94 Maccabi Electra
Maccabi Electra bounced back
from an awful game 1 to stun defending champion Panathinaikos 92-94 on
Thursday at OAKA to even their best-of-five Turkish Airlines Euroleague
Playoffs series at 1-1. David Blu connected on two clutch
three-pointers in the last two minutes of overtime – the first to tie
the score and the second to put Maccabi ahead with 29.8 seconds left –
and the team denied the Greens twice on the final possession to secure
the win. Keith Langford paced the winners with 17 points, Blu scored
16, Yogev Ohayon came through with a career-high 15 points plus 5
assists and Devin Smith tallied 15 plus 9 rebounds. After a close first
half, Ohayon led the visitors on a 0-9 third-quarter run to make it
54-61. A Devin Smith triple early in the fourth quarter gave the
Israeli champs a 10-point lead and stunned the local crowd. Read more here.
March 22, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 2: Four winners aim to take 2-0 series leads!
With
barely 48 hours having passed since their series openers, adjusting
their strategies on the fly, the eight remaining aspirants for the
Turkish Airlines Euroleague title this season return for Game 2 of the playoffs on Thursday and Friday.
All four winning teams from Game 1 to move within a single victory of
reaching the Final Four. Three of them - Panathinaikos, Barcelona and
CSKA - can do so on their home floors. Olympiacos can put a near-lock
on its series should it take another road win. In the three seasons
since the playoffs went to a best-of-five format, any team that took a
2-0 lead has advanced. Three Game 1 road losers - Maccabi, Unics and
Gescrap - cannot only tie their series with Game 2 victories, but would
reverse the homecourt advantage with two home games next week. Read
more here.
CSKA Moscow vs. Gescrap BB 79:60
Montepaschi vs. Olympiacos 81:80
March 22, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 1 bwin MVP: Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos
Dimitris
Diamantidis was once again the star of the show Tuesday for the
defending champs as Panathinaikos routed Maccabi Electra 93-73 in Game
1 of the teams’ best-of-five playoffs series. The reigning MVP got an
extra treat for his brilliant performance in the playoffs Game 1 bwin
MVP title. The Panathinaikos playmaker turned in 15 points on
near-perfect shooting in addition to 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
and 2 blocks to lead the Greens. His numbers added up to a season-high
performance index rating of 31, which was best among all players on
winning teams in the first games of the playoffs. Read more here.
March 21, 2012 -Playoffs, Game 1
Montepaschi Siena 75 - 82 Olympiacos
Olympiacos
Piraeus came from behind in the final minutes with its best player on
the bench to stun Montepaschi Siena 75-82 in Game 1 of their
best-of-five playoffs series on Wednesday. Vassilis Spanoulis fouled
out with 4:38 to play and the hosts up 70-67, but Acie Law took over
with 5 points – including the go-ahead free throws – and an assist in
the remaining time. Joey Dorsey also came up big with a huge put-back
slam and a massive block on Bo McCalebb, while Georgios Printezis
capped an impressive night with 20 points to lead the Reds. The game
was close throughout, though the home team led the vast majority of the
game. These teams also met in the playoffs last season, when Olympiacos
won Game 1 at home, but Siena took the next three to reach the Final
Four. Read more here.
CSKA Moscow 98 - 71 Gescrap BB
CSKA
Moscow sent a message that echoed all around the competition by
thrashing Gescrap BB 98-71 in Game 1 of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague
playoffs in the Russian capital on Wednesday. CSKA took a 1-0 lead in
the best-of-five series and hosts Game 2 on Friday. Nenad Krstic paced
six CSKA scorers in double figures with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
Alexey Shved added 15 and Jamont Gordon 14, while Milos Teodosic,
Anrdey Kirilenko and Viktor Khryapa each accounted for 11 points.
Kostas Vasiliadis paced Bilbao with 15 points and Alex Mumbru added 14.
An 0-11 run that Vasiliadis capped with a three-pointer gave Gescrap a
15-18 lead midway through the first quarter. Khryapa and Teodosic
stepped up to put CSKA back ahead, 27-26, after 10 minutes. A
three-pointer by Janis Blums allowed Gescrap to tie the game for the
last time, 31-31. Read more here.
March 20, 2012
Panathinaikos 93 - 73 Maccabi Electra
Panathinaikos
hammered Maccabi Electra 93-73 in Game 1 of their Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Playoffs series at OAKA on Tuesday night. The rematch of
last season’s championship game turned ugly early as the Greens
delighted their fans. The outcome was decided during a five-minute
stretch to end the first quarter and start the second in which Nick
Calathes scored 10 as Panathinaikos broke open an 18-18 tie with 22
unanswered points. The lead would reach the 30s in the third quarter
and Maccabi never threatened again. Euroleague MVP Dimitris Diamantidis
was the star of the show with 15 points and 8 assists. Calathes
finished with 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Mike Batiste and David
Logan added 11 each for the champs. Read more here.
FC Barcelona Regal 78 - 66 Unics
FC
Barcelona Regal took the first step to reach the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four by downing Unics Kazan 78-66 at home in Game 1 of
the playoffs on Tuesday. Barcelona now has a 1-0 lead in the
best-of-five playoffs series and hosts Game 2 on Thursday. Pete Mickeal
scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to pace the 2010
champs. Erazem Lorbek added 15 points, Juan Carlos Navarro scored 13,
Boni Ndong 12 and Marcelinho Huertas dished 10 assists for the winners.
Nathan Jawai led Barcelona with 15points, Henry Domercant added 12 and
Valdimir Veremeenko tallied 11 points and 9 rebounds in defeat. Ndong
shined early in the game and got some help from Navarro and Huertas to
give Barcelona a 22-14 lead after 10 minutes. Read more here.
March 19, 2012 - Playoffs, Game 1: Best-of-five playoffs open Tuesday and Wednesday!
The
ultimate week for Turkish Airlines Euroleague fans is upon us. For the
first time ever, the best eight teams in the competition will be in
action twice each over the course of four consecutive days as the
best-of-five playoffs start in a fury. Two games daily from Tuesday
through Friday set the stage for decisive battles next week as the
teams battle to survive and to advance to basketball’s promised land,
the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul. The first
balls bouncing will be heard in the Catalonian region of Spain, where
FC Barcelona Regal hosts Unics Kazan at 19:00 CET on Tuesday.
Barcelona, which was the Euroleague champion just two seasons ago,
rolls into the playoffs with a seven-game winning streak – the longest
active run in the league.Read more here.
CSKA Moscow vs. Gescrap BB 98:71
Montepaschi vs. Olympiacos 75:82
March 15, 2012 - Playoffs series analysis: FC Barcelona Regal vs. Unics
A
classic continental powerhouse meets an up-and-coming Euroleague
newcomer in the playoffs, as FC Barcelona Regal goes against reigning
Eurocup champion Unics. Barcelona is tied for the best record in the
Euroleague this season (15-1), but Unics has been able to steal as many
as five road wins in its debut season in the competition. Barcelona
beat Unics twice during the regular season, but this playoffs series
will be a whole different story. The best two defensive teams in the
competition – Barcelona has allowed opponents just 61.4 points per game
until now, Unics 67.4 ppg. – go face-to-face for a spot in the 2012
Final Four. Barcelona leads all playoff teams in rebounding (35.4 rpg.)
and fewest fouls committed (18.3). Read more here.
Road to playoffs: key facts – FC Barcelona Regal
After cruising through the regular season with a 9-1
record and getting tested at home in its Top 16 opener, Barcelona faced
a daunting trip to Tel Aviv. And through three quarters, it was
anybody’s game. However Erazem Lorbek stepped up as Barca took over in
the fourth and finished the game on a 6-22 charge to register the win.
From that day, Barcelona became the clear Group H favorite and did not
let up in finishing the Top 16 undefeated. Read more here.
Road to playoffs: key facts – Unics Kazan
Though Unics impressed plenty as it marched through
the Turkish Airlines Regular Season, the Top 16 was a whole new story.
And at halftime of its Top 16 opener at home, Unics was down 24-41 to
Fenerbahce Ulker. However before the team could be written off, the
trio of Petr Samoylenko, Vladimir Veremeenko and Henry Domercant
carried Unics all the way back for a confidence-building 76-71 victory.
The week after, Unics stunned Panathinaikos in Athens and was on the
road to the playoffs. Read more here.
March 13, 2012 - Playoffs series analysis: Panathinaikos vs. Maccabi Electra
Get
ready for the newest chapter in one of the world's greatest basketball
rivalries as last season's Euroleague finalists, champion Panathinaikos
and runner-up Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, meet in a playoff for the first
time. These teams have been crowned European champion in eight of the
last 12 seasons. During that span, they have clashed in five Final
Fours and three times in the title game. Panathinaikos takes a title
defense into the playoffs for the first time. Maccabi, the only repeat
Euroleague champion in the last two decades, will try to deny that
honor to the Greens. Panathinaikos leads the 2011-12 Euroleague in
steals (8.4 spg.) and all playoffs teams in offensive rebounding (11.6
orpg.), proving that Panathinaikos remains as intense and aggressive as
ever. Read more here.
Road to playoffs: key facts – Maccabi Electra
Facing an early elimination, Maccabi stepped up big
in Top 16 Week 4. Maccabi could have been on its way out with a loss
against Bennet Cantu, or become the odds-on favorite to qualify if it
beat its opponent by more than 8 points to take the tiebreak advantage.
Maccabi trailed at halftime, but limited Cantu to just 5 points in the
third quarter to pull away for a critical win. David Blu led the way
with 14 points and five other Maccabi players scored at least 8. Read
more here.
Road to playoffs: key facts – Panathinaikos
Despite losing twice at home, Panathinaikos reached
Top 16 Week 6 with the chance to win Group G and get the home-court
advantage in the playoffs. Unics was on a five-game home winning
streak, but Panathinaikos managed to play an excellent defensive game
at the right time. Mike Batiste and Sarunas Jasikevicius led the Greens
to a 63-68 road win in which Panathinaikos proved not only that it can
beat anyone, anywhere, but that it is ready for the playoffs. Read more
here.
March 9, 2012 - Playoffs series analysis: Montepaschi Siena vs. Olympiacos
Two
modern classics in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague meet again in the
playoffs, as Montepaschi Siena faces Olympiacos BC Piraeus at this
stage for the second consecutive season. Despite dropping its last two
games, Montepaschi has enjoyed a stellar Euroleague season thus far and
won its Top 16 group against three Spanish powerhouses. Olympiacos
overcame a 1-3 start in the regular season and reached the playoffs
despite losing its first two Top 16 games by showing its character and
never giving up. Montepaschi, which seeks its fifth Final Four
appearance since 2003, has committed the fewest turnovers in the
2011-12 Euroleague and is second in three-point shooting percentage
(39.9%), showing that its trademark extra pass offense is working to
perfection. Read more here.
Road to playoffs: key facts - Montepaschi Siena
After finishing in second place in Regular Season
Group D and handing FC Barcelona Regal its only loss of the season, it
was clear that Montepaschi Siena was in it to win it this season.
However the game that made it clear just how good Montepaschi could be
was in Top 16, Week 2, when the Italian champs pounded Real Madrid
69-88 on the road in the Spanish capital. Bo McCalebb starred early
with 10 points and 2 assists in the first quarter alone as the visitors
jumped out to an 18-point lead and never looked back. Read more here.
Road to playoffs: key facts - Olympiacos
The Reds have faced a number of must-win situations
this season both to survive the regular season and later the Top 16.
But no game – or win – was bigger than an 88-81 victory over GS Medical
Park in the Top 16 finale. On the strength of bwin February MVP
Vassilis Spanoulis’s 20 points, 8 assists and 4 steals, Olympiacos
outdueled Galatasaray in what was essentially a do-or-die situation to
claim second place in Top 16, Group E. Read more here.
March 7, 2012 - Playoffs series analysis: CSKA Moscow vs. Gescrap BB
A
classic Turkish Airlines Euroleague powerhouse goes up against a
precocious newcomer as CSKA Moscow faces Gescrap BB of Spain in this
best-of-five playoff series. CSKA arrives tied for the competition's
best overall record this season, 15-1, while Gescrap won six of its
last eight games, eliminating such giants as Caja Laboral and Real
Madrid, to survive. CSKA demonstrates its main offensive virtues -
great ball circulation and a fluid transition game - by leading the
Euroleague in scoring with 86.2 points per game, two- (57.8%) and
three-point accuracy (41.1%), as well as assists (19.9 apg.). Gescrap
leads all playoffs teams in free throw shooting percentage (80.8%) and
commits the competition’s fewest turnovers, 14.4 per game, while
ranking second in two-point accuracy (55.2%). Read more here.
Road to playoffs: key facts - CSKA Moscow
CSKA won 13 Euroleague games in a row from the start
of the season before Galatasaray Medical Park handed CSKA its first
loss, 68-64, but the Russian powerhouse bounced back right away to
prove it is a rock-solid squad ready to challenge for all titles. CSKA
overwhelmed Olympiacos 96-64, leaving no doubt about its power. Andrey
Vorontsevich led six CSKA scorers in double figures with 15 points.
CSKA tormented Olympiacos early by draining 11 of 12 first-half
three-pointers to get a 54-26 lead at the break. Read more here.
Road to playoffs: key facts - Gescrap BB
Gescrap won all of its key games until now, but none
was more important than its regular season Week 10 triumph against
regional rival Caja Laboral. In what became a do-or-die game for both
teams, Gescrap beat Laboral 77-72 in front of a sellout crowd of over
10,000 fans. Marko Banic led the winners with 18 points. Free throws by
Kostas Vasiliadis and Janis Blums allowed Gescrap to seal the win in
the final seconds and start the celebrations across the city of Bilbao.
Read more here.
His
best game ever in a career full of great performances was just enough
Thursday for Dimitris Diamantidis to send defending champion
Panathinaikos Athens back to the Final Four and earn him the bwin MVP
honor for a thrilling Game 5 of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague
Playoffs. Diamantidis, the reigning Euroleague MVP, was everywhere from
the first second to the dramatic last one as Panathinaikos outlasted
Maccabi Electra 86-85 in an instant classic in front of 18,700 adoring
fans in Athens. Diamantidis stepped up with one of the best games of
his career when it was needed most. His numbers tell much of the story.
His performance index rating of 34 was a career high. He came within 1
point of a career-best in by scoring 25 to lead Panathinaikos. Read
more 
For
the third time since the best-of-five playoff format was adopted four
seasons ago, an all-or-nothing Game 5 will be played to determine which
of two deserving contenders advances to the Final Four. At 20:45 CET on
Thursday evening, Athens Olympic Indoor Hall will host the decisive
Game 5 of what has been a thrilling clash of Euroleague heavyweights
thus far 
On
Friday, CSKA Moscow superstar Andrei Kirilenko added to a brilliant
campaign by leading his team to the 2012 Final Four with a fantastic
performance in a 71-73 road win at Gescrap BB. His 23 points and 8
rebounds equaled a performance index rating of 29, which made him the
Playoffs Game 4 bwin MVP. This is also the fourth time – and second in
the playoffs – Kirilenko has earned the distinction, which is also most
in the league. Kirilenko scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds – the
last board to clinch the win and Final Four berth for the Russian
champs. He only missed 4 shots and also dished 2 assists and had 1
steal in another impressive outing. Read more 
Olympiacos
advanced to its third Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in the
past four seasons by beating Montepaschi Siena 76-69 to secure a 3-1
series victory. Vassilis Spanoulis scored 19 points - including 10 of
10 free throws - while Kyle Hines collected 19 points, 7 rebounds and 4
blocks for Olympiacos. Georgios Printezis and Acie Law both chipped in
8 points for the winners, who grabbed 17 offensive rebounds to make up
for just 4 of 22 shooting (18%) from long range. David Andersen had 15
points and 11 rebounds for Siena, which also received 15 points from
Nikos Zisis, 11 points from Igor Rakocevic and 10 points each from Bo
McCalebb and Ksistof Lavrinovic. Siena was foiled by 14 turnovers
compared to just 7 by Olympiacos. Read more 
CSKA
Moscow survived a late challenge from Gescrap BB for a 71-73 win at
Bilbao Arena to march into the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final
Four in Istanbul with a 3-1 series win. Andrei Kirilenko starred with
23 points and 8 rebounds – the final coming with 2 seconds to go to
secure the win. Aaron Jackson rallied Gescrap from 14 down in the
fourth quarter to 70-71 in the final seconds. He then went to the line
with his team down 3 and 2.9 seconds remaining. The point guard made
the first –barely – and missed the second on purpose, but Kirilenko
rose for the rebound to seal the game and series. Ramunas Siskauskas
and Nenad Krstic added 13 each, Viktor Khryapa scored 10 and Milos
Teodosic dished 8 assists for the winners. Jackson paced the Men in
Black with 19 points and 8 assists. Read more 
Panathinaikos
came up strong when it mattered most to beat Maccabi Electra 69-78 on
Thursday at Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv, 
The 
In
the most important win in club history, Gescrap BB sharpshooter Kostas
Vasiliadis was the star that shined brightest. Vasiliadis drained 4 of
8 from downtown en route to 20 points as the 
Olympiacos
Piraeus thoroughly dominated Montepaschi Siena 75-55 on Wednesday night
at Peace and Friendship Stadium to take a 2-1 lead in their
best-of-five Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs series. The Reds host
Game 4 on Friday knowing a win will send the club back to the Final
Four for the third time in four years. Kyle Hines came off the bench
for 15 points and 9 rebounds to pace Olympiacos, while Kostas Sloukas
added 11 and Acie Law tallied 10 points and 6 assists. After a close
opening quarter, Olympiacos started to build a lead in the second and
went ahead 32-21 by halftime. Then an 8-0 start to the second half
highlighted by Evangelos Mantzaris put the hosts in total control. The
lead soared as high as 29 in the fourth quarter as Olympiacos marched
to victory. Read more 
Gescrap
BB recorded its first-ever Turkish Airlines Euroleague playoffs win by
Maccabi
Electra held off defending champion Panathinaikos 65-62 in another
thriller on Tuesday at Nokia Arena to take a 2-1 lead in the
best-of-five Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs series. Richard
Hendrix’s tip-in put the hosts up 3 with 15.4 seconds to go and when
Nick Calathes’s potential game-tying triple bounced out, the Maccabi
fans let out a sigh of relief. Game 4 is on Thursday on the same court
and another Maccabi win will send Coach David Blatt and co. to another
Final Four, while a Panathinaikos win sends the series back to Athens
for Game 5 next week. Maccabi never trailed thanks to a dominant start
and a 26-13 lead early in the second quarter. Read more 
On
the heels of one of the most exciting weeks in Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Playoffs history, the action returns quickly with as many as
eight games over four days with eight teams hunting for European glory!
Games 2 in three of the best-of-five series came down to the closing
minute – and in one case overtime – and were decided by a grand total
of 6 points. 
Bo
McCalebb made a game- and perhaps season-saving steal at midcourt to
preserve an 81-80 Montepaschi Siena home win over Olympiacos on Friday
night and even their playoff series at one victory each. A pair of
missed free throws by Igor Rakocevic with 5.8 seconds left gave
Olympiacos the ball back, but as Georgios Printezis dribbled across
halfcourt, McCalebb came out of nowhere to steal the ball cleanly and
dribble untouched as time expired. Only then could the Siena fans, who
had seen their team lose a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 1,
breathe easily. Heading into Friday's fourth quarter, Siena led by 14
points, 67-53. Olympiacos rallied again, but saw a piece of good luck
turn bad on McCalebb's heads-up play at the finish. Read more 
Barcelona
held off Unics Kazan down the stretch to win 66-63 and take a 2-0 lead
in their Turkish Airlines Euroleague Playoffs series. The teams head to
Russia next week and Barca can clinch a spot in the 2012 Final Four
with a win. The Euroleague’s all-time leading scorer, Juan Carlos
Navarro, paced Barcelona with 18 points. Erazem Lorbek netted 14 and
Pete Mickeal 12. Nathan Jawai carried Unics with 21 points and 10
rebounds and Bostjan Nachbar scored 16. Lorbek had 5 points in an early
9-0 run that gave Barcelona an 11-2 margin. Unics managed to get within
17-13 after 10 minutes and an outstanding Nachbar helped the guests to
get the lead, 17-21. Read more 
With
barely 48 hours having passed since their series openers, adjusting
their strategies on the fly, the eight remaining aspirants for the
Turkish Airlines Euroleague title this season return for 
Olympiacos
Piraeus came from behind in the final minutes with its best player on
the bench to stun Montepaschi Siena 75-82 in Game 1 of their
best-of-five playoffs series on Wednesday. Vassilis Spanoulis fouled
out with 4:38 to play and the hosts up 70-67, but Acie Law took over
with 5 points – including the go-ahead free throws – and an assist in
the remaining time. Joey Dorsey also came up big with a huge put-back
slam and a massive block on Bo McCalebb, while Georgios Printezis
capped an impressive night with 20 points to lead the Reds. The game
was close throughout, though the home team led the vast majority of the
game. These teams also met in the playoffs last season, when Olympiacos
won Game 1 at home, but Siena took the next three to reach the Final
Four. Read more 
CSKA
Moscow sent a message that echoed all around the competition by
thrashing Gescrap BB 98-71 in Game 1 of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague
playoffs in the Russian capital on Wednesday. CSKA took a 1-0 lead in
the best-of-five series and hosts Game 2 on Friday. Nenad Krstic paced
six CSKA scorers in double figures with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
Alexey Shved added 15 and Jamont Gordon 14, while Milos Teodosic,
Anrdey Kirilenko and Viktor Khryapa each accounted for 11 points.
Kostas Vasiliadis paced Bilbao with 15 points and Alex Mumbru added 14.
An 0-11 run that Vasiliadis capped with a three-pointer gave Gescrap a
15-18 lead midway through the first quarter. Khryapa and Teodosic
stepped up to put CSKA back ahead, 27-26, after 10 minutes. A
three-pointer by Janis Blums allowed Gescrap to tie the game for the
last time, 31-31. Read more 
FC
Barcelona Regal took the first step to reach the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four by downing Unics Kazan 78-66 at home in Game 1 of
the playoffs on Tuesday. Barcelona now has a 1-0 lead in the
best-of-five playoffs series and hosts Game 2 on Thursday. Pete Mickeal
scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to pace the 2010
champs. Erazem Lorbek added 15 points, Juan Carlos Navarro scored 13,
Boni Ndong 12 and Marcelinho Huertas dished 10 assists for the winners.
Nathan Jawai led Barcelona with 15points, Henry Domercant added 12 and
Valdimir Veremeenko tallied 11 points and 9 rebounds in defeat. Ndong
shined early in the game and got some help from Navarro and Huertas to
give Barcelona a 22-14 lead after 10 minutes. Read more 
The
ultimate week for Turkish Airlines Euroleague fans is upon us. For the
first time ever, 
A
classic continental powerhouse meets an up-and-coming Euroleague
newcomer in the playoffs, as FC Barcelona Regal goes against reigning
Eurocup champion Unics. Barcelona is tied for the best record in the
Euroleague this season (15-1), but Unics has been able to steal as many
as five road wins in its debut season in the competition. Barcelona
beat Unics twice during the regular season, but this playoffs series
will be a whole different story. The best two defensive teams in the
competition – Barcelona has allowed opponents just 61.4 points per game
until now, Unics 67.4 ppg. – go face-to-face for a spot in the 2012
Final Four. Barcelona leads all playoff teams in rebounding (35.4 rpg.)
and fewest fouls committed (18.3). Read more 
Get
ready for the newest chapter in one of the world's greatest basketball
rivalries as last season's Euroleague finalists, champion Panathinaikos
and runner-up Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, meet in a playoff for the first
time. These teams have been crowned European champion in eight of the
last 12 seasons. During that span, they have clashed in five Final
Fours and three times in the title game. Panathinaikos takes a title
defense into the playoffs for the first time. Maccabi, the only repeat
Euroleague champion in the last two decades, will try to deny that
honor to the Greens. Panathinaikos leads the 2011-12 Euroleague in
steals (8.4 spg.) and all playoffs teams in offensive rebounding (11.6
orpg.), proving that Panathinaikos remains as intense and aggressive as
ever. Read more 
A
classic Turkish Airlines Euroleague powerhouse goes up against a
precocious newcomer as CSKA Moscow faces Gescrap BB of Spain in this
best-of-five playoff series. CSKA arrives tied for the competition's
best overall record this season, 15-1, while Gescrap won six of its
last eight games, eliminating such giants as Caja Laboral and Real
Madrid, to survive. CSKA demonstrates its main offensive virtues -
great ball circulation and a fluid transition game - by leading the
Euroleague in scoring with 86.2 points per game, two- (57.8%) and
three-point accuracy (41.1%), as well as assists (19.9 apg.). Gescrap
leads all playoffs teams in free throw shooting percentage (80.8%) and
commits the competition’s fewest turnovers, 14.4 per game, while
ranking second in two-point accuracy (55.2%). Read more 
