Panathinaikos vs Baskonia: Analysis and Prediction – Panathinaikos and Baskonia will play a game in the EuroLeague fifth round.
Panathinaikos vs Baskonia Odds
Panathinaikos Team News
For Panathinaikos, the season didn’t start as envisioned, especially considering the hefty investments made in the summer. The acquisition of expensive and high-quality players was expected to guarantee excellent performances, which hasn’t been the case so far. The Greek team has a 1-3 record in the EuroLeague, and in the previous round, they were bested by Maccabi by 86:81.
In the meantime, Panathinaikos also played a game in the domestic league, where they faced no trouble at all. Lavrio lost the third quarter 30:9, and that pretty much sums up the match. Ergin Ataman team showed no mercy, defeating their opponents 111:75, leaving no room to consider any other outcome. The top scorers were Kostas Antetokounmpo and Juancho Hernangomez, each with 15 points. However, it’s questionable how much weight this game can hold as a parameter for the upcoming challenges in the EuroLeague. A positive note for Panathinaikos is that they played at full throttle from start to finish, without any concentration lapses, which had been a concern earlier.
Panathinaikos seems to be in more need of improvement offensively than on the defensive end of the court. Only 24 points scored in the first half against Maccabi Tel Aviv tell enough of that story. While Baskonia might not be the team to fully capitalize on such lapses, the Greek team should strive to avoid any complications that could lead to an unexpected loss.
Baskonia Team News
Baskonia also can’t boast of particularly high-quality performances at the beginning of this new EuroLeague season. Unlike last year when they started by winning everything, that’s not the case now. Joan Penarroya is almost certainly on the verge of being replaced, and it seems like this could be his last game on the sidelines for the team from Vitoria.
Baskonia is coming into this match on the back of three consecutive losses, all of which were suffered at home. This is a very concerning trend and the primary reason why Penarroya is close to departing from the Spanish team. The latest blow came against Unicaja in the domestic league, where they lost 93:84. It was a very similar game to the one against Zalgiris, where the team from Vitoria also suffered a defeat. A poor start, followed by a comeback in the second quarter, only to be followed by a very weak third quarter and ultimately, failure without much suspense. The standout performers against Unicaja were Markus Howard with 22 points and Maik Kotsar with 13.
If Baskonia were to have another slow start in the upcoming game, it would not be a good sign at all. During tough away matches, it’s always difficult to turn the tide, especially when the home team has strong support from the crowd. Taking all of this into account, it’s clear what approach the Spanish team needs to adopt.
If you are reading our analysis for the first time, then it is important to mention that every day we also offer to our readers a “Acca of the Day” completely free.
Panathinaikos vs Baskonia H2H
In the last 10 matches, both teams have won five times each.
Absences and Injuries
Ioannis Papapetrou will not be available to Ergin Ataman until the end of the year, while Dimitris Moraitis is questionable for the next match. Khalifa Diop’s participation for the guests is uncertain.
Panathinaikos vs Baskonia Prediction
For both teams, this will be a very significant match. It’s a make-or-break game for Penarroya, and Ataman might not be so secure if he experiences a fourth defeat in five EuroLeague rounds. The trouble for Baskonia is that they have to seek win on the away court, which, in this case, will be a crucial advantage for the host. Panathinaikos lost as much as Baskonia did, but against stronger opponents, where their lack of chemistry was evident. Now, we expect this to change, for the Greek team to approach the match maximally and let the quality shine against a shaken Baskonia. Therefore, our suggestion is a Panathinaikos win with a handicap greater than what is offered.
Tip-off Time: Friday, 27.10.2023, 20:15 CET
Prediction: Panathinaikos -5.5
Odds: 1.75
Sportsbook: 22Bet
*Odds are active at the time the article is published
We found the best odds for this game at the popular 22Bet sportsbook. You will get an attractive Welcome Bonus for all newly registered customers if you register today.