PAOK drops out of play-off positions in Basket League
PAOK has become basketball’s punchbag in the last few weeks, as after its elimination from the Eurocup it has suffered consecutive losses in the Basket League against not the strongest of oppositions, with the latest instance being its 18-point loss at Kolossos Rhodes on Wednesday.
After its home defeat to Rethymno, PAOK went down easily on Rhodes with a 74-56 score, slumping to ninth in the standings, i.e. outside the play-off positions.
The question now is, can PAOK regroup and match cup holder Panathinaikos at home on Sunday?
The Greens strolled to a 90-69 victory over bottom side Arkadikos on Thursday with debutant Elliot Williams scoring 10 points, and are about to add yet another player to their roster, forward Vince Hunter.
League leader Olympiakos had no problems at home against lowly Trikala, winning 84-52 after yet another excellent performance in defense.
In the tightest of the midweek games, Rethymno edged out visiting Lavrio 87-85 at home on Thursday and is all but assured of staying up. American Rashad Madden turned from zero to hero in just six seconds, as he recovered from giving the ball away to Lavrio that took the lead with a few seconds on the clock, by going for a coast-to-coast effort that made the basket and earned him a free throw that he also made.
Third-placed AEK dismissed the resistance of host Apollon at Patra on Thursday, winning 82-63 to stay one point above Aris that thrashed visiting Korivos Amaliadas 99-56 on Wednesday. Kifissia is fifth after coming from behind to beat Kavala 83-79 at home.
