The history of starting 5s: Anadolu Efes are historically old / News - Basketnews.com

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Anadolu Efes Istanbul fielded a historically old starting five during the Game 2 of the EuroLeague playoffs series against AX Armani Exchange Milan on Thursday.

3-pointers this season

37%9,9Points made:9,9Accuracy:36,8%Place in standings:2Record max:22Record min:4Most made 3FGs:Shane LarkinTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Efes starting five consisted of James Anderson (33 yrs 27 days old), Bryant Dunston (35 yrs 328 days), Shane Larkin (29 yrs 201 days), Adrien Moerman (33 yrs 257 days), and Krunoslav Simon (36 yrs 301 days). With an average age of 33.81, this starting five is the oldest in modern EuroLeague's playoff history.

The previous playoff record belonged to PAF Bologna which achieved the feat during the 2000-2001 season.

Interestingly enough, the entire Top-5 of the oldest regular season starting fives is occupied by the two teams that meet each other this year - Anadolu Efes and Milan. The Italian team is on top of the list.

Milan fielded the oldest starting five two years ago during a Round 14 matchup against Real Madrid of the 2019-2020 regular season. The five of Vladimir Micov (34 yrs 245 days), Luis Scola (39 yrs 231 days), Andrea Cinciarini (33 yrs 179 days), Christian Burns (34 yrs 104 days), and Jeff Brooks (30 yrs 188 days) was both the oldest during the regular season and the oldest starting five ever in the competition.

The oldest starting five of the EuroLeague Final Four belongs to the aforementioned Real Madrid, it just happened a year earlier.

The Spanish powerhouse went to fight for the third place in the 2018-2019 Final Four against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul with a starting five of Jaycee Carroll (36 yrs 33 days), Facundo Campazzo (28 yrs 57 days), Gustavo Ayon (34 yrs 48 days), Rudy Fernandez (34 yrs 45 days), and Felipe Reyes (39 yrs 64 days).

It's notable that four starting fives of the oldest Top-5 won in the Final Fours, including the Real Madrid starting five. The oldest equivalents of the playoffs and the regular season both lost their matches.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul / Schedule

AX Armani Exchange Milan Anadolu Efes Istanbul48-64 AX Armani Exchange Milan Anadolu Efes Istanbul73-66 Anadolu Efes Istanbul AX Armani Exchange MilanTue17:30 Anadolu Efes Istanbul AX Armani Exchange Milan04-2817:30

Last year's semifinal game's starting five of Anadolu Efes of Sertac Sanli, Chris Singleton, Vasilije Micic, Krunoslav Simon, and Rodrigue Beaubois was the fifth-oldest starting five in Final Four history but scored the most points out of the Top-5 with 70 out of the team's total of 89 during the match against CSKA Moscow.

Older teams generally win more often in the playoffs and in the Final Four, while really young starting fives generally are the least successful in the league.

Seeing the way Efes coach Ergin Ataman sees his team and uses his rotation, it is quite possible we're going to see the record broken during this year's EuroLeague playoffs again.

The Top-5 oldest starting fives in EuroLeague history:

Season Team Stage Round Age Points Result 2018-2019 Real Madrid Final Four 3rd Place 34.34 55 W 2020-2021 CSKA Moscow Final Four Semifinal 31.76 29 L 2018-2019 CSKA Moscow Final Four Final 31.59 56 W 2018-2019 CSKA Moscow Final Four Semifinal 31.58 52 W 2020-2021 Anadolu Efes Istanbul Final Four Semifinal 31.58 70 W 2021-2022 Anadolu Efes Istanbul Playoffs Game 2 33.81 31 L 2000-2001 PAF Bologna Playoffs Game 1 33.09 55 W 2020-2021 FC Barcelona Playoffs Game 1 32.55 38 L 2000-2001 PAF Bologna Playoffs Game 2 32.41 44 W 2020-2021 CSKA Moscow Playoffs Game 3 32.4 11 W 2019-2020 AX Armani Exchange Milan Regular Season Round 14 34.52 35 L 2019-2020 AX Armani Exchange Milan Regular Season Round 25 33.8 49 L 2021-2022 Anadolu Efes Istanbul Regular Season Round 34 33.78 57 L 2021-2022 Anadolu Efes Istanbul Regular Season Round 19 33.77 65 W 2019-2020 AX Armani Exchange Milan Regular Season Round 24 33.6 51 L Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.