Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four 2024 At a Glance

Posted on 16 May at 2:23 pm

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four: Real Madrid’s Dominance, Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce’s Potential, and Olympiacos’s Defense Set the Stage

For three days, May 24-26, the eyes of the sporting world will be on the German capital as Uber Arena hosts the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four. The two semifinals couldn’t be more different. Let’s have a look.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (May 24, 18:00 CEST)

Two teams making their Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four returns after years will face off for the first time at the European basketball showcase. Panathinaikos, finishing second in the regular season, reached its first Final Four since 2012 by defeating Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in a five-game series. Fenerbahce, ending sixth, upset AS Monaco in the playoffs and is in the Final Four for the first time since 2019.

Panathinaikos’s head coach Ergin Ataman also leads the Turkish national team. Fenerbahce’s head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, and players Nick Calathes and Georgios Papagiannis, are former Panathinaikos members.

Fenerbahce’s notable victory over AS Monaco broke the Game 5 curse, setting a 19-1 record for away teams. Kostas Sloukas is recovering from a right calf contusion but is expected to play. Sloukas, who previously played for Fenerbahce, expressed optimism about his participation and aims to help Panathinaikos reach the final. He noted the special significance of facing his former team and the peculiarities due to the presence of Papagiannis and Calathes. Sloukas emphasized his focus on playing passionately to achieve the team’s goals and shared his ambitions for Panathinaikos’s future, aiming for a title win.

Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (May 24, 21:00 CEST)

The second Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Foursemifinal is a rematch of last season’s championship game, where Real Madrid triumphed with a final shot. Los Blancos finished atop the regular season standings and swept Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the playoffs. Olympiacos, finishing fifth, overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat FC Barcelona in a grueling playoff duel.

Both teams are making their third straight Final Four appearances. Real Madrid and Olympiacos have a rich history, including the first EuroLeague game of the modern era on October 16, 2000. In addition to last season’s final, Real Madrid bested Olympiacos in the 1995 championship game, while the Reds triumphed in the 2013 title game. They’ve also met in the 1996, 2009, and 2014 playoffs.

On the floor, this game is a clash of styles. Real Madrid led the league in scoring, rebounds, assists, and PIR. Olympiacos boasted the top-ranked defense in points and PIR allowed. Olympiacos secured its third consecutive Final Four appearance with a 59-63 road victory over FC Barcelona. The team defied the odds, becoming the second road team to clinch a best-of-five series on the same night. Shaquielle McKissic scored 9 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, while Kostas Papanikolaou added 5 of his 11 points in the final 3 minutes. Nikola Milutinov had 10 points and 10 rebounds. For Barcelona, Nicolas Laprovittola led with 17 points, and Alex Abrines contributed 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four Prediction

Predicting the outcome of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four is challenging, especially given the nature of these do-or-die games. However, based on current form and key statistics, here are our predictions:

Real Madrid is the strongest contender. They finished first in the regular season and led the league in crucial statistics like scoring, rebounds, and assists. With a proven track record in critical games, including their victory in last season’s championship against Olympiacos, they are well-positioned for another title run. Notably, players Hezonja and Tavares, heading into free agency, could potentially depart after one of the greatest EuroLeague seasons of all time. Olympiacos is also a strong contender, known for their defensive prowess and resilience. Their recent victory over FC Barcelona and their ability to perform under pressure make them a dangerous opponent.Fenerbahce has the potential to surprise. They have had a solid playoff performance and a history of success in the EuroLeague. With their experienced squad and strategic coaching, they can be a formidable opponent. Panathinaikos is another strong candidate. They have a balanced team with experienced players and showed resilience by winning a tough series against Maccabi. Their head coach, Ergin Ataman, brings valuable experience, and key players are expected to be fit for the Final Four.

Given these factors, Real Madrid appears to be the most likely to emerge as champions, with Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce as strong challengers. However, the EuroLeague Final Four is known for its unpredictability, and any of the teams could realistically take the title.