Panathinaikos vs ALBA Berlin Analysis: The Defensive Quintet, the Terrifying 21-0 Run, and Injuries

In one of the most peculiar games this season, Panathinaikos dominated ALBA Berlin with a 91-81 victory at OAKA, advancing to 19-11. This win was another decisive step toward securing home-court advantage in the playoffs, positioning them third in the standings with four competitive matches before the regular season finale. Before the game’s tip-off, even the most pessimistic Panathinaikos fans expected an easy night against ALBA Berlin, the weakest team in this year’s EuroLeague. However, who could have imagined that the Greens would be so inaccurate (4/20 from three-point range) and especially so unlucky? Losing both available small forwards, Osman and Papapetrou, to injuries within the same game severely impacted Panathinaikos. They struggled to find rhythm offensively, allowing the Germans to take an 8-point lead (69-77) with six minutes left. The turnaround came through defense. At this point, Ergin Ataman realized the game could only be turned around defensively. He benched his heavyweights in offense, Slocum and Nan, and deployed a kamikaze quintet determined to steal every ball. Brown, Grant, Kalaitzakis, Huertas, and Gabriel smothered the German basket, leading to a stunning 21-0 run in the final five minutes. The Germans managed just one basket in the last six minutes, sealing Panathinaikos’ double-digit victory. A crucial decision by Ataman gave key roles to his role players, who delivered. Jerryd Grant emerged as the most consistent player for Panathinaikos, scoring a season-high 19 points. Lorenzo Brown also continued to improve, contributing significantly in the final stretch. Meanwhile, Wenien Gabriel showcased his warrior spirit, nearly achieving a double-double with 13 points and 8 rebounds while blocking 4 shots. Now, Panathinaikos is close to securing home-court advantage, needing just two more wins in their final four matches.