The keys to Paris' victory over the all-powerful Panathinaikos

The match corresponding to matchday 3 of the Euroleague between debutant Paris Basketball and defending champion Panathinaikos promised to be a spectacle for fans. With high-level players like TJ Shorts on the French side and stars like Lorenzo Brown, Kendrick Nunn, and Mathias Lessort on the Greek side, the clash was set to be thrilling.

Initially, the team of Ergin Ataman (Panathinaikos) was the clear favorite, but the Parisian team made it clear on the court that their participation in the Euroleague would not be a mere anecdote. Under the guidance of former NBA player Tiago Splitter, Paris Basketball managed to dominate the game with a lead of up to 15 points (42-27) midway through the second quarter, and they extended the gap to 16 (64-48) in the third quarter. Their control of the game and ability to unsettle Panathinaikos was evident for much of the match.

Although Ataman's team pushed hard in the final minutes, a controversial play resulting in a technical foul on Ataman himself and an unsportsmanlike foul sealed their fate. The final score was 84-80 in favor of the French team.

At BlogdeBasket, we analyze the keys to the surprising victory of Paris Basketball.

The 3 keys to the French victory

1.- Aggressive and suffocating defense.

The Parisian team applied intense pressure from midcourt, both on the ball and passing lanes, stealing the ball on up to 9 occasions, forcing Panathinaikos to make numerous errors. The Greeks lost up to 15 turnovers, which allowed the French more possessions and quick transitions with easy baskets for Paris, consistently keeping the momentum in their favor.

2.- Verticality and decisiveness in attack.

Offensively, under Tiago Splitter's guidance, Paris focused on generating shooting opportunities in the early seconds of possession. If fast breaks were not possible, the strategy was to give the ball to TJ Shorts and let the point guard accelerate the game through the pick-and-roll. His speed and scoring ability from mid-range created spaces both in the paint and on the perimeter, facilitating quick ball movement and providing good shooting options.

3.- Scoring efficiency.

None of these strategies would have worked without the accuracy of players like Nadir Hifi (20 points, 3/7 from three-point range), Collin Malcolm (14 points), and TJ Shorts (16 points and 7 assists). They were the team's engines, making improbable shots and securing a solid lead during the first three quarters. Thanks to their accuracy, Paris was able to withstand Panathinaikos' late push and secure the victory against the reigning Euroleague champions.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las claves de la victoria de París sobre el todopoderoso Panathinaikos