Panathinaikos 2010/11

[straight forward]

Second Thoughts: In awe of Dimitris

DOr Fischer - Real MadridIf you didn't see Thursday's thrilller between Panthinaikos Athens and Union Olimpija Ljubljana yet, at least from the 38th minutes, go out of your way to locate it. Don't dare to miss one of the most amazing clutch individual performances in the history of European basketball - and I say that without exaggeration. In a span of no more than 5 minutes the Greek powerhouse scored 30 points to turn an eight-point deficit into an overtime win. It was the second time this season that these two teams went to overtime, which happens as often as, well...CSKA misses the Top16. The true hero of those minutes is the living legend Dimitris Diamantidis, who is arguably the best player to call when in emergency - and certainly after Thursday. Diamantidis excels when there's a need. If his team plays well and leads safely, he'll focus on organizing the game, and playing his one-fo-a-kind defense. But when the Greens were down 60-68 with 2:37 to play, it was emergency scoring time. His coach, Zeljko Obradovic, called a timeout and from the outcome, it seems that all he said was: "Dima, take over." Up to that point, Diamantidis had only 3 points, 1 rebound and 5 assists. He finished the game with 16 points, 3 rebounds and 11 assists, but those are just figures. He scored his team's last 13 points in just 74 seconds to force the overtime, including a put-back of Mike Batiste's miss to tie the game on the buzzer and send it to overtime. He started OT with 3 assists that were enough to put the Greens up 90-82, ending the emergency. He did nothing from then to the finish, but of course, there was no need anymore. "Sometimes, I have no words to describe his role and contribution to our game," Batiste said afterward. "He is always here to show the way to all of us." Amazingly, Diamantidis was responsible for ALL of his team's 30 points between 60-68 and 90-82, by either scoring or dishing the assists for every basket, 13 points and 6 assists, 5 of the latter on three-point shots.

Yarone Arbel