New year has begun with a comfortable and convincing home victory against Anadolu Efes, in order to restart with the best way possible the second half of Euroleague regular season. Pascual's players approach was from jump ball with concentration and determination, avoiding dangerous drops which cost the defeat in Valencia and the huge risk in Rhodes.
The main key of the game was for sure the percentage behind the arc (14/26), with trio Calathes-Pappas-Denmon that combined for an impressive 10/12. But generally have Calathes and Pappas in their best version make all the difference possible for this team and this will be crucial for all January, when Panathinaikos will have three of next four games at home (Barcelona, CSKA and Zalgiris) and the trip at Fenerbahce home, without forget that the circle will be closed with derby against Olympiacos for Esake.
So it's clear that in January there will be the first crucial series in order to reaffirm all the ambitions and to confirm the good walk done until now. OAKA will play a decisive role for this and already from tonight atmosphere was hot and full of passion. And probably the best thing of the night came from fans: during last minutes, with match already closed, entire stadium gave the total support for Rivers, who is not living his best period inside court. Pascual was able to build a very good system where there aren't one or two players that condition entire team and in case of negative night all is locked, but all players are necessary and essentials and have KC at his usual levels will be very important. But we are sure that this is just a passenger period and he will back soon at his normality!
And the walk will continue again at home with a not easy game against Barcelona, that in Spain "gave" to Panathinaikos 27 points in October and, after a good victory in Moscow against Khimki, conquered a very huge victory with CSKA, dominating the game. So never decrease the guard, also remembering the previous negative match against them.
