Bayern loses in Panathinaikos 83-76

FC Bayern's basketball team is still without a road win in the EuroLeague. This is their fourth unsuccessful trip and came against the Greek team with a final score of 83-76. In the strange atmosphere of the deserted giant hall OAKA, the injury-weakened guests had a hard time for most of the game and lost 17 turnovers (Athens: 10), had only twelve assists (21) and could not continue their good play from the past few games. In addition to captain Nihad Djedovic (adductors), they also missed JaJuan Johnson who has really played well of late.  Top scorer was again Vladimir Lucic with 20 points.

The FCBB will have the weekend off before the Munich December Marathon starts next Friday (December 4th) with the home game against Khimki Moscow which kicks off eleven games in 27 days.

Points per quarter Bayern - Athens: 13-18, 22-26, 19-16, 22-23.

Stats: Two-point shooting: 47% (FCBB) // 56% (Athens); Three-point shooting: 37% // 39%; free-throw shooting: 91% // 75%; Rebounds: 34 // 31; Assists: 12 // 21; Turnovers: 17 // 10.

Quotes:
FCBB head coach, Andrea Trinchieri: "Congratulations to Panathinaikos. They played harder, with more energy and deserved to win. We didn't match their energy and that gave us three very bad quarters. But in the end we found our way back into the game, as we always have before, it was a game for one possession. But then we made three crucial, terrible mistakes on defense - that cost us the game."

Jalen Reynolds: "We knew beforehand that this would be a tough game. After all, an away game in the EuroLeague is never easy, especially against a struggling opponent. We fought, but that was not enough today. But that doesn't change the fact that we will stay together and want to win the next game again."

Game recap:
Bayern started well in the quiet but huge hall with 18,500 unoccupied seats, where in the meantime taped fan chants enriched the spooky atmosphere. Nick Weiler-Babb hit his first three and  thentwo free throws, Vladimir Lucic hit his own three and Leon Radosevic won on the boards  - 10-5 after five minutes. But Athens' defense visibly restricted the guests' offense as the huge Papagiannis (7ft1) proved to be a problem. A 10-0 run forced Bayern coach Andrea Trinchieri to take a time-out (15-10/9.) An 18-10 deficit was a bad look for Bayern just 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter before Wade Baldwin was fouled while shooting from deep and finished the first ten minutes, 18-13.

After 90 seconds into the second quarter, the score was already 26-13 due to a handful of particularly bad plays by Bayern- Ten ball turnovers after 13 minutes proved to be disastrous. But gradually the FCBB increased their aggressiveness in the attack and got to within ten against at 31-22. The FCBB lacked Baldwin's points, but his fastbreak pass to Lucic for an open three brought fire to the squad for the first time (35-27/17th) Again Lucic and then Baldwin followed suit and suddenly Bayern was right back in the game, 40-35. But Papagiannis smashed the boards again and after one half the Greek squad led 44-34. 

After the break Panathinaikos reached the foul line very quickly but the German team went to the line more often. Jalen Reynolds' first basket brought additional hope but overall the Munich shot selection remained a topic for discussion. Reynolds' energy and his hard work on the offensive boards brought the guests back into the game and down six with ten minutes to play, 60-54.   

A Bayern three cut the lead in half but soon after, Sisko collected his fourth foul and took a seat. The error rate remained high and the concentration level was clearly not always at its highest. 69-63 and with five minutes left, a constant up and down for both teams. Lucic hit a three and then found Reynolds for a dunk and brought the FCBB nearly neck-and-neck at 72-70 with three minutes to play.But then a three from an openNedovic, Baldwins Turnover and another lay-up of the Serbian top scorer and the game was decided. 

TO THE SCHEDULE

Photo Credit: Moschandreou