Mission (im)possible: Fenerbahce, Olympiacos and Maccabi will aim to make history / News - Basketnews.com

Since the 2008-09 season, when the best-of-five series were introduced, only 6 teams have managed to come back from a 1-2 deficit and reach the Final Four. Moreover, all 18 Game 5s were won by a home team.

Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com, Stefanos Kyriazis/IPA/IPA/SIPA-Scanpix, BNS/Teodoras Biliūnas Credit ZUMAPRESS.com, Stefanos Kyriazis/IPA/IPA/SIPA-Scanpix, BNS/Teodoras Biliūnas

For the 3rd time in the last 4 years, EuroLeague playoffs have at least three series that require Game 5.

Player of the Game EFF 32 Kostas Sloukas Points 20 Accuracy 6-11 Rebounds 8 Assists 6

It will be the same in 2024, as Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, AS Monaco-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, and FC Barcelona-Olympiacos Piraeus are heading to Game 5.

After the Game 3, Panathinaikos, Monaco, and Olympiacos were trailing 1-2.

According to Darius Garuolis' data, since the 2008-09 season, when the best-of-five series were introduced, and not including the 2023-24 campaign, there have been 42 occasions when a certain team was behind 1-2 in the series. Only 6 times did the trailing team manage to come back and reach the Final Four.

The most recent example comes from the previous season when Real Madrid pulled off an even more incredible feat.

The Spanish powerhouse lost the first two games against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade but bounced back by winning 3 games in a row and eventually became the EuroLeague champions.

Interestingly, the first comeback from a 1-2 deficit came in the very first season when the best-of-five series were introduced. Back in 2009, FC Barcelona won Game 4 and Game 5 against Baskonia.

Every case when the team trailing 1-2 in the series eventually won it:

Season Series winner Series loser 2008-09 Barcelona Baskonia 2011-12 Panathinaikos Maccabi 2012-13 Barcelona Panathinaikos 2015-16 Lokomotiv Kuban Barcelona 2016-17 Olympiacos Anadolu Efes 2022-23 Real Madrid Partizan

So, what does it say for Monaco, Panathinaikos, and Olympiacos? Well, there is some good news for Monaco and Panathinaikos in particular.

In all 6 cases when a comeback from being 1-2 down took place, the team that reached the Final Four had a home-court advantage. So, forcing Game 5 might become a lifeline for Monaco and Panathinaikos.

Speaking of Game 5s, historically, there's another positive factor for home teams.

3-pointers this season

35%7,9Points made:7,9Accuracy:35,1%Place in standings:16Record max:15Record min:3Most made 3FGs:Mike JamesTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Overall, 18 Game 5s have been played since the 2008-09 season. In every single one of them, Game 5 was won by a home team.

Every Game 5 in EuroLeague history

Season Home team Away team Final score 2022-23 Olympiacos Fenerbahce 84-72 Monaco Maccabi 97-86 Real Madrid Partizan 98-94 2021-22 Barcelona Bayern 81-72 Olympiacos Monaco 94-88 2020-21 Barcelona Zenit 79-53 Olimpia Milan Bayern 92-89 Anadolu Efes Real Madrid 88-83 2018-19 Anadolu Efes Barcelona 80-71 2016-17 Olympiacos Anadolu Efes 87-78 2015-16 Lokomotiv Kuban Barcelona 81-67 2013-14 CSKA Panathinaikos 74-44 Real Madrid Olympiacos 83-69 2012-13 Olympiacos Anadolu Efes 82-72 Barcelona Panathinaikos 64-53 2011-12 Panathinaikos Maccabi 86-85 2010-11 Real Madrid Valencia 66-58 2008-09 Barcelona Baskonia 78-62

It means that Olympiacos will need to make history if they aim for the 3rd Final Four appearance in a row.

The Greek team would become the first team to win the Game 5 away from home and the first team to win the series after trailing 1-2 without having the home-court advantage at the beginning of the season.

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