PAO with an amazing comeback over Zalgiris
If you would have looked only at the first part of the EuroLeague game between Panathinaikos and Zalgiris Kaunas, you could have seen two different teams. The hosts missed everything, having problems finalizing, and making turnovers, while the visitors from Lithuania made gold from almost every possession.
The game seemed already finished at halftime when Zalgiris led 42-27. It was a very storage partial result if we took into consideration that Zalgiris was without their point guard, the American Isaiah Taylor who replaced the injured Keenan Evans. His absence should have been a disaster for the Lithuanian squad, but instead, they were dominating away, in one of the most difficult courts, OAKA.
What happened later is history.
After the break, PAO irrupted with an astonishing 3rd quarter (37-16), which changed completely the game. The Greens entered motivated after halftime and they played savagely like a great team. Paris Lee had amazing numbers and he finished with 27 marking this way his personal record. But the entire team had an unseen percentage from the 3-point line: 52.6% with 10 from 19 scored from the arc.
The 4th quarter continued in the same way and at the end of the game Panathinaikos Athens reported a blowing victory 89-65, in spite of their huge number of missing free throws (12). Propelled by Paris Lee’s leadership and example, the whole team transformed in the second half, when they scored 62 points, definitely one of the best achievements in the history of the EuroLeague.
The article was written by Gratian Cormos, a Romanian journalist, book writer, life coach and mentor currently living in Barcelona, Spain.
If you are interested in collaborating with his website brainbasketball.net, in order to publish articles, interviews or other features related to basketball, feel free to contact Gratian Cormos by Whatsapp or Telegram at this Spanish number: +34 612414486.
Photo credit: EuroLeague
