The blockbuster game of the week in the Euroleague is between Zalgiris and Panathinaikos. Two of the top teams in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague will battle out in the upper regions of the Euroleague table. Ataman will not be on the sidelines for Panathinaikos.
Zalgiris topped the Euroleague table for a short while but have fallen down the table after losing three straight games to Fenerbahce (65-72), Paris (77-83) and Bayern Munich (74-77). Zalgiris have a record of 6-4 currently. The head coach Andrea Trinchieri can not be too happy with these three losses. Even though it’s against good teams and the games were kind of close.
Zalgiris have won three straight matches in their domestic league. There is no question about how huge this game is for Zalgiris. A win at home tonight in Kaunas is almost a must win game for them at this point of the season. They need to regain some important momentum going forward
Since Panathinaikos lost the Euroleague derby to Olympiacos they have won two straight games. Bologna (82-77) and Maccabi Tel Aviv (93-87). Panathinaikos have a record of seven wins and three losses in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague. They sit at the 4th spot in the table. A win tonight would put them on level with Olympiacos and Paris with a record of 8-3.
The Head Coach Ataman has the team right where he wants it to be. In a pretty much perfect position. Although Ataman will not be with the team in Kaunas for this match. He is with the Turkish National team. Mathias Lessort is playing well and so is Kendrick Nunn. Panathinaikos are starting to look more and more like the team that won the Final Four in Berlin in the spring. Panathinaikos have won seven straight games in the domestic Greek league. Cedi Osman will miss the game.
