In playoffs again

CSKA and Panathinaikos has never played in playoff series before the previous year. Now two 6-time Euroleague champions will face each other in quarterfinals for the second year in a row.

The Army Men have to play without Vitaly Fridzon (broken middle finger on the right hand) in home games. PAO will miss center Gani Lawal.

“We start the playoff series against well-respected and important opponent,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “We scouted most of the games they played in Top 16 and some from the regular season. They became better team for sure, very competitive, they have experience and players who played in Final Fours and won trophies. It’s gonna be tough series. We have to be focused on Game 1. Playoff series needs no emotions, requires focus, motivation. We need our fans to be here. I know that other CSKA teams have no activities, so there are no excuses, we need everyone to support us.”

“Close” relations

Coach Itoudis spend 12 seasons as an assistant coach at Panathinaikos (1999-2012). He helped the club win 5 Euroleague championships, 11 Greek League titles and 7 Greek Cups during that span. Dimitris Diamantidis and Antonis Fotsis played under his command.

Andreas Pistiolis was an assistant coach for PAO as well (2007-12).

James Gist (N 58) was chosen right after Sasha Kaun (N 57) during 2008 NBA Draft. Sonny Weems (N 39) was also drafted that year.

Pavel Korobkov played for Lokomotiv-Kuban junior team in 2009-10 season, the year, when Gist played for Krasnodar main team.

From 2007 to 2011 (with exception of 2008-09 season) Lukas Mavrokefalidis played for Olympiacos together with Milos Teodosic. In 2011-12 season the center defended Spartak St.Petersburg colors with Alexei Zozulin.

Janis Blums was a teammate of CSKA guard Aaron Jackson at Gescrap Bilbao from 2010 to 2012.

CSKA athletic coach Kostas Chatzichristos worked with Vladimir Jankovic in Panionios from 2007 t0 2012.

Past matchups

Wins/losses: 15-15
1981-82 – European Champions Cup. Group Stage: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 87-83 (-4)
1981-82 – European Champions Cup. Group Stage: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 83-80 (+3)
1994-95 – European Championship for Men’s Clubs. Semifinal Round: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 101-77 (-24)
1994-95 – European Championship for Men’s Clubs. Semifinal Round: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 77-70 (+7)
1995-96 – European Championship for Men’s Clubs. Semifinal: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 71-81 (-10)
2000-01 – SuproLeague. Regular Season: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 69-57 (+12)
2000-01 – SuproLeague. Regular Season: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 89-81 (-8)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Regular Season: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 85-91 (-6)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Regular Season: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 83-80 (-3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular Season: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 58-69 (+11)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular Season: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 75-68 (+7)
2004-05 – Euroleague. Regular Season: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 73-85 (+12)
2004-05 – Euroleague. Regular Season: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 75-72 (+3)
2004-05 – Euroleague. 3rd place game: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 91-94 ОТ (-3)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Regular Season: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 92-82 (-10)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Regular Season: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 84-89 (-5)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Final: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 93-91 (-2)
2008-09 – Euroleague. Final: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 73-71 (-2)
2010-11 – Euroleague. Regular Season: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 74-60 (-14)
2010-11 – Euroleague. Regular Season: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 68-72 (-4)
2011-12 – Euroleague. Regular Season: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 76-78 ОТ (+2)
2011-12 – Euroleague. Regular Season: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 91-75 (+16)
2011-12 – Euroleague. Semifinal: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 66-64 (+2)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Panathinaikos: 86-69 (+17)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Top 16: Panathinaikos – CSKA: 63-69 (+6)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Panathinaikos: 77-74 ОТ (+3)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Panathinaikos: 77-51 (+26)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. Panathinaikos – CSKA: 65-59 (-6)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. Panathinaikos – CSKA: 73-72 ОТ (-1)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Panathinaikos: 74-44 (+30)

Important numbers

CSKA has won 12 consecutive playoff home games dating back to 2008. The last team to beat CSKA in a playoff game in Moscow was Olympiacos in Game 1 of their 2007-08 series.

Milos Teodosic leads the league this season in assists with an average of 7.2 per game.

Teodosic has made at least 1 three-pointer in 19 consecutive Euroleague games.

Teodosic needs 5 more three-pointers to catch Zalgiris assistant coach Sarunas Jasikevicius for eighth place on the Euroleague’s all-time list with 315 threes.

Teodosic has made 14 consecutive free throws in Euroleague action.

Sonny Weems has made at least 1 three-pointer in eight straight and 19 of his last 20 Euroleague games.

Sasha Kaun has scored in double figures in each of his last five Euroleague games. He is averaging 16.6 points per game over that period.

Manuchar Markoishvili needs 7 more three-pointers to reach the century mark for his Euroleague career.

Short dossier

Panathinaikos Athens, Greece
Founded: 1908
Colors: green, white
Home court: O.A.K.A (18,700)
President: Emmanuel Papadopoulos
Head coach: Dusko Ivanovic
Website: www.paobc.gr
Trophy case:
- 6-time Euroleague champion (1996, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2011),
- International Cup winner (1996),
- 34-time Greek champion (1945-46, 1946-47, 1949-50, 1950-51, 1953-54, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1966-67, 1968-69, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1976-77, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1983-84, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2013-14),
- 15-time Greek Cup winner (1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015)