Panathinaikos BC - BC Olympiakos Piraeus predictions and free betting tips [14/06/2024]

"Panathinaikos" and "Olympiacos" will face off today in the decisive match of the Greek Basketball Super League final.

Panathinaikos

Recently crowned EuroLeague champions, "Panathinaikos" encountered unforeseen challenges at the start of the Greek Championship final series against "Olympiacos." Despite their European success, the series began unfavourably for them: the first two matches resulted in defeats with scores of 84-89 and 86-92. However, a return to their home stadium helped "Panathinaikos" turn the tide: the team won the third match 83-76 thanks to the active play of Kendrick Nunn, who scored 21 points, and Lessort with 17 points, thus levelling the series. The fourth match of the series was particularly intense. "Panathinaikos" showcased their resilience, clawing back from an 11-point deficit and securing victory at the very end with a scoreline of 88-85. In this game, Kendrick Nunn led from the front, becoming the top scorer with 25 points, while Grant and Lessort added 15 points each. The team demonstrated excellent efficiency, converting 61% of their field goal attempts, which was key to their success.  

After two initial defeats, the final series has reached its decisive phase. The fifth match, set to take place in Athens, will determine the Greek champion. "Panathinaikos" is eager to prove that their EuroLeague triumph was no fluke, and now, with the home court advantage, the club aims to cement their superiority and secure another trophy.

Olympiacos

Having finished the EuroLeague Final Four in third place, "Olympiacos" entered the national championship final with high hopes. However, they encountered unexpected difficulties against "Panathinaikos." After a confident start to the series with two victories (89-84 and 92-86), the Piraeus club failed to maintain their advantage in the subsequent matches, losing 83-76 and 85-88. Despite impressive statistical performances in previous games, critical moments in the fourth match led to attacking failures. Giannoulis Larentzakis and Kostas Papanikolaou were unable to capitalise on their opportunities, scoring only 13 and 11 points respectively. Nikola Milutinov and Nigel Williams-Goss had a poor game, scoring 6 and 11 points on low shooting percentages.  

The last game was particularly tough, with "Olympiacos" showing noticeable deficiencies in their offensive play. The team managed to convert only 44.1% of their field goals and missed numerous opportunities at the free-throw line, converting only 22 out of 35. This inconsistency became a significant factor in their two consecutive losses in the series. Nonetheless, "Olympiacos" exhibited strong defence and rebounding, which unfortunately did not compensate for their attacking issues. Heading into the crucial fifth game, which will be held on the opponent's court, "Olympiacos" faces the challenging task of turning the series around and regaining their advantage. To achieve this, they need to improve their shooting accuracy and resolve their offensive problems.

Match Prediction: Panathinaikos vs. Olympiacos

The Nunn-Lessort duo, who stumbled in the first two matches, managed to level the series. In the fifth match, everything starts afresh. Based on the season's performance, "Olympiacos" doesn’t look so weak as to lose by a large margin to equally-matched opponents after two series defeats.