As they've done all season, EuroLeague.net staff offers these bold predictions for the second semifinal on Friday between Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus.

Bold predictions: Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos

### Real Madrid will show why it has dominated all season

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

Let's face it: Real Madrid started the season with a 10-0 record, it was the first team to qualify to the playoffs and also the first to punch its playoffs tickets. It reached the Final Four with 30 victories, two of them against Olympiacos, in 37 games. Olympiacos has been unlucky in each of its last two Final Four appearances, losing both times at the buzzer. This time, my prediction is that it will not be that close. Real has the experience and the confidence, and has naturally embraced its role as favorite, knowing that if it wants to win again, it needs to put together 40 minutes full of focus and intensity, being loyal to what went well throughout the season. It is the end of an era: Rudy Fernandez will leave the team and it is a final opportunity to win another big title together. I believe Los Blancos will be fighting for the title on Sunday. **My pick: Real.** 

### Olympiacos, because defense wins championships

#### *by Frankie Sachs*

For my money, this game is the championship game. Barring an injury or something else throwing a monkey wrench into things, the team that wins this game will be the one I pick to take the crown on Sunday. Which team will that be? That's the question. It's easy to make the case for either of them. I will pick Olympiacos for several reasons. I think the Reds have the options in the frontcourt with Nikola Milutinov, Moustapha Fall, Moses Wright and Filip Petrusev to make things difficult for Los Blancos's star centers. Olympiacos should be hungry and steeled after losing at the buzzer in the Final Four two years running. And, as they say, "defense wins championships." **My pick: Olympiacos.**

### Real Madrid looking to join an exclusive club

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

Just three teams have won back-to-back EuroLeague titles this century, but I think Real Madrid will give itself a good shot to make it four by knocking off Olympiacos. Chus Mateo's squad already know what it takes to succeed at the Final Four, having gone all the way last year, while Georgios Bartzokas's men must surely still have nightmares about Sergio Llull's game-winning shot in last season's championship game. Olympiacos certainly has what it takes to beat Real, but I think Los Blancos' experience in these moments will end up seeing them reach another final. **My pick: Real Madrid.**

Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus semifinal trailer

### The Reds are peaking at the right time

#### *by Frank Lawlor*

Much is legitimately made of Real Madrid's position as favorite. But a year ago, Los Blancos were a miss or a make – Sergio Llull's rainbow that fell or Kostas Sloukas's runner that didn't – from not defending anything right now. And in 2024, the reigning champs are 14-6 to the Reds' 16-6, so this season's dominance by Real was front-loaded. Olympiacos beat FC Barcelona decisively in the playoffs despite having a fully healthy lineup only late in that series, which the Reds won by scoring 92 points in Game 4 and holding Barca to 59 in Game 5 away. In other words, this Olympiacos team can win both ways, too. Meanwhile, Real lost an important glue guy when Gabriel Deck was injured after the playoffs. All respect to the champs, but I think that if Olympiacos can rebound, especially on offense, thereby pumping the breaks a bit on Real point guard Facundo Campazzo, they can win this game. And I think they will. **My pick: Olympiacos.**

### Real gets a step closer to title defense

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

It's the EuroLeague's best offense against the best defense, but I do not think this game will turn into a battle of those two strengths. Olympiacos will be energetic, it will be focused and it will be playing behind an army of its fans. The Reds will also have a bit of revenge on their agenda in this rematch of last year's championship game. But I think, just like last year, Real Madrid will come out on top. Real's defense is very underrated, and this team filled with EuroLeague winners is not afraid of any scenario, even if it involves getting into a low-scoring affair against the Reds. So, I pick the defending champs to keep their title defense going. **My pick: Real Madrid**

SEMIFINAL NEWS

Real Madrid v Olympiacos Piraeus (2024-05-24T19:00:00.000Z)

As they've done all season, EuroLeague.net staff offers these bold predictions for the first semifinal on Friday between Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Bold predictions: Panathinaikos vs. Fenerbahce

### The Ataman effect is real

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

Ergin Ataman is renowned for dreaming big, but he certainly knew that something special was possible at Panathinaikos, one of Europe's storied clubs. The Greens ended up having a tricky playoff series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv before eventually coming out on top in Game 5 at a sold-out OAKA, but that matchup was the perfect preparation for his team. One could make a good argument that the highest quality of basketball in the EuroLeague Playoffs was seen in that Panathinaikos-Maccabi series, and I think Ataman's group will be ready to swat Saras Jasikevicius's Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul aside in the semifinals. My pick: Panathinaikos.

### Fenerbahce will rain threes into the title game

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

This huge clash of two teams whose fan bases have waited long for a Final Four return will get only one of them to the championship game again. Panathinaikos is a favorite in the eyes of many, as the team with a second-best record this season. But Fenerbahce has a 17-9 record since Sarunas Jasikevicius took over as a coach. The team is averaging 86.8 points, making 12.2 triples on 41.1% three-point accuracy since his arrival in December, and along the way the has set a new single-season mark with 449 triples made. One might suggest that three-point shooting is not what a team wants to rely on at the Final Four, but Fenerbahce made 13.4 triples per game in a high-stakes and highly-physical five-game playoff series, and I think that can get a job done for Jasikevicius's troops in Berlin. My pick: Fenerbahce

### Talented Greens take another step

#### *by Frankie Sachs*

There is a reason these teams made it to the Final Four. All four teams can win, which makes predicting the winner of any of these games very difficult. Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce have few advantages over one another. Even by the numbers, they are quite similar. My gut tells me to pick Fenerbahce, which honestly does seem to be a bit more determined thus far in the interactions I have experienced with the players and the media. The Panathinaikos players seem looser. Can they ramp it up just in time for tip-off? Maybe. Will Fenerbahce burn itself out? It's possible. But my head thinks the Greens are the more talented team. And for that reason… My prediction: Panathinaikos. 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul semifinal trailer

### Fenerbahce will meet the moment

#### *by Frank Lawlor*

In my opinion, if one team in Berlin still has some margin to improve upon what we've seen so far, it's Fenerbahce. Indeed, Sarunas Jasikevicius's charges will need to be better even than they were during the five-game playoffs with AS Monaco to counter a prime-time Panathinaikos team on Friday. But since Saras arrived back in December, this team has been on the upswing, and his players seem to feel they have more to show here. I would have misgivings about which Fenerbahce big man will step up and how they will manage against Mathias Lessort, especially, but having seen Jasikevicius engineer playoff road wins with small-ball lineups, I am sure he has plenty up his sleeve for this semi. I expect Nigel Hayes-Davis, Marko Guduric and Nick Calathes – who shut down Mike James in the playoffs – to be deciding factors in a result that I would not consider an upset after the tightly-packed season we've had. My pick: Fenerbahce.

### Panathinaikos holds the cards 

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

 It is one of the hardest games to predict all season. Fenerbahce has arrived to the Final Four with great momentum. Better ball circulation led to several three-point shooting records and even when some may think that is a double-sided weapon, modern basketball is all about three-pointers and head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius knows it. On the other hand, I believe we have not seen the best version of Panathinaikos just yet. Some players like Luca Vildoza and Juancho Hernangomez, who earned EuroBasket final MVP honors in Berlin, usually play better in important games. Kostas Sloukas and Kendrick Nunn have been a one-two punch for head coach Ergin Ataman, and Mathias Lessort is posting career-best numbers. I believe that if the Greens are able to contest shots and get Lessort and Dinos Mitoglou involved around the basket, they should make it to the championship game. My pick: Panathinaikos. 

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2024-05-24T16:00:00.000Z)

The basketball-centered party in the heart of the German capital was bustling from the moment it opened on Friday

FanZone reaches new heights at Kraftwerk Berlin

The greatness of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague merges with urban hoops for an event that appeals to all in the [FanZone](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-the-fanzone-at-kraftwerk-berlin-is-the-place-to-be-at-the-final-four/) at Kraftwerk Berlin. Whether you are a basketball devotee or just curious about the big event at the heart of Berlin, there is something for everyone at the [FanZone](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-the-fanzone-at-kraftwerk-berlin-is-the-place-to-be-at-the-final-four/).

Held for the first time at an indoor venue, the [FanZone](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-the-fanzone-at-kraftwerk-berlin-is-the-place-to-be-at-the-final-four/) at Kraftwerk Berlin transports visitors to a basketball-centered party, with the former powerplant hopping thanks to the DJ spinning tunes from the top floor. A host of pavilions sponsored by the Euroleague Basketball’s family of partners ensures that there is something to do at all times at the [FanZone](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-the-fanzone-at-kraftwerk-berlin-is-the-place-to-be-at-the-final-four/). 

The crowd is a virtual rainbow of shirts with the Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul faithful glowing in their yellow, the Olympiacos Piraeus fans shining in their firetruck red, the Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens loyals proudly decked out in rich green and Real Madrid’s supporters looking fine in their whites. Alongside them are basketball fans of all shapes and sizes wearing the colors of local German squads, other EuroLeague contenders and past powerhouses of the game, including one wearing a Benetton Treviso jersey! 

Among the first fans to visit the [FanZone](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-the-fanzone-at-kraftwerk-berlin-is-the-place-to-be-at-the-final-four/) when it opened on Friday was Erhan, a Fenerbahce fan from Turkey. Erhan, who is at his sixth Final Four, was taking his son to his first.     

“The best thing is to be at the [FanZone](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-the-fanzone-at-kraftwerk-berlin-is-the-place-to-be-at-the-final-four/) on the first day, to enjoy the atmosphere and get ready for the first games,” Erhan said. “I think this year there are many great activities for the kids. We cannot leave. We love the merchandise and we already bought ours. It’s a great [FanZone](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-the-fanzone-at-kraftwerk-berlin-is-the-place-to-be-at-the-final-four/) experience this year.”

Along one row on the top floor, fans can get their photo taken with the EuroLeague Trophy at the BKT booth, purchase the first cases of the new Donruss EuroLeague collectors cards from Panini, play a virtual reality basketball game sponsored by OlyTV and get official Final Four merch from Spalding. On Saturday afternoon, OlyTV will open a podcast booth where players from all of the Final Four teams will stop by for interviews. 

On the ground floor, Turkish Airlines and Motorola have large facilities where you can play games for prizes and get souvenirs. There are great options to eat too from the food truck at the entrance to a variety of shops on the second floor offering all sorts of street fare, drinks and snacks, from pizza and pasta to pulled-beef sandwiches and Korean bowls. 

“We are huge basketball fans. We booked our tickets in December. We were a bit nervous in the playoffs, but our teams made it!” said Panathinaikos fan Dimitris Lalaounis, who is taking in his first Final Four with his close friend and Olympiacos fan Ilias Panteleakos, a veteran of four Final Fours. 

“There are many activities and prizes to win. It’s really nice,” Panteleakos added after the two had just completed playing one-on-one at one of the courts. 

At the heart of the [FanZone](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-the-fanzone-at-kraftwerk-berlin-is-the-place-to-be-at-the-final-four/) are a variety of courts hosting different 3x3 and full-court tournaments related to the Final Four, which fans are invited to watch. Check [the FanZone schedule](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-the-fanzone-at-kraftwerk-berlin-is-the-place-to-be-at-the-final-four/) to see the tournament times as well as the other special activities taking place over the weekend. 

When you go to the big games to cheer on your team, you can take photos of your favorite players on the court in action, but getting photos of yourself rooting them on was more of a challenge. The EuroLeague Final Four makes it easy!

Motorola presents an AI-based program to capture fans in action at the Final Four. Photos will be taken in the stands and at the VIP Hospitality experience at Uber Arena as well as at the FanZone. Once your face is recognized, your photo will be shared directly to your smartphone.

All you need to do is go to <https://euroleague.getpica.com> and allow the service to record an image of your face with its AI facial recognition software. After that, each fan will receive a private folder with only the photos in which they appear. These photos can then be downloaded or shared on social media.

Use the #F4GLORY hashtag to make sure everyone sees you in action at the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four!

Memories for the stars in the stands

The first do-or-die games of the 2014 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four come back-to-back on a busy Friday evening, with Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul tipping off at 18:00 CEST, followed by Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos Piraeus at 21:00 CEST. After all the analysis in the run-up to the big event, [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net) experts are asking four key questions that will be answered in the semifinals.

### Can Fenerbahce avoid a slow start?

Fenerbahce head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius will need his team to start the semifinal against Panathinaikos better than the Greens have been performing after tipoff throughout the 2023-24 season. [Fenerbahce was tied or trailed at the end of the first quarter in as many as 23 of its 39 games](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/standings/?season=2023-24&type=Ahead%20behind&phase=REGULAR%20SEASON) so far this campaign, including four of the team's five playoff games. That's not just more slow starts than any of the other teams in Berlin this weekend, but more than any team any playoff team, as well. In that series against AS Monaco, Fenerbahce trailed after the first quarter in each of the first three games and in Game 5. Still, it won all but one of those four games. Looking at the entire season, Fenerbahce went on to win 16 of 23 games when it was not ahead after the opening 10 minutes. So, one could say that Fenerbahce did not mind playing from behind too much, but one has to wonder if the team can afford more slow starts at the Final Four.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-Panathinaikos Athens | Round 3 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### Can Mathias Lessort make his freebies?

If one Final Four player alone can make or break his team's chances, it may be Panathinaikos center [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/). The [All-EuroLeague First Team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/meet-the-2023-24-all-euroleague-first-team/) center is a force of nature whose sole blemish this season was free throw shooting that teetered at 65.8% until the playoffs before plummeting to 41.2% during them, when he made just 21 of 51 tries at the line.  It's no accident that Lessort's 5.8 free throw attempts per game led all regular-season players while his whopping 10.2 in the playoffs more than doubled anyone else and ranked second all-time: Opponents would rather watch Lessort miss or even split free throws than dunk on them. [His 3-for-14 showing when he was last seen in Game 5 set a playoffs record for misses](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/lessort-found-redemption-at-the-end-of-game-5/) that was just 1 shy of the all-time EuroLeague record for free throw futility.

None of this is lost on Fenerbahce, of course, so we can expect to see Lessort standing still instead of soaring above the rim for many of his shots [in the first semifinal](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/E2023/331/#comparison). How Fenerbahce spends those fouls will condition its own chances, but expect a basketball rarity early on Friday when an army of Panathinaikos fans roar if and when Lessort makes his first free throw. 

Panathinaikos will live or die with Lessort because he does so many good things on the court, but also because his only backup, [Kostas Antetokounmpo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-antetokounmpo/011221/), shoots even worse free throws, 40.9% for the season. Meanwhile, another of the most-fouled players in the league is their opponent, Fenerbahce's [Johnathan Motley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/johnathan-motley/011157/), who makes 71.2% and was seen finishing Thursday night's practice spending minutes on end at the free throw stripe.

Bangers gonna bang and dunkers gonna dunk, but only if they get that chance. If not, the first semifinal could turn on how well they handle their freebies.

### Can the Olympiacos bigs deal with Tavares and Poirier? 

Real Madrid star center [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) is the only former Final Four MVP playing in Berlin this weekend. Tavares has been a headache and a natural-born mismatch for all opponents everywhere. He has changed endless shots on defense with his long arms, quick feet and outstanding timing.  On offense, Tavares has developed a set of post moves, becoming a reliable mid-range jumper and free throw shooter. Together with [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/), Tavares has dominated pretty much every other frontcourt they've played. That said, however, Real's semifinals opponent, Olympiacos Piraeus, has plenty of depth at the "five" position. [Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moses-wright/012878/) has been a great addition and [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) is finally healthy and ready to dominate the boards along with [Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/moustapha-fall/008811/). When these teams played in Round 12, Tavares and Poirier combined for 11 points and 8 rebounds. Tavares missed his team's game against the Reds in Round 23, in which Poirier had 7 points and 9 rebounds. Real won both games. Can Real's bigs dominate the Reds' frontcourt in such an important game? 

A rematch of 22/23's championship game sees Real aiming to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Monaco as it hosts dangerous Olympiacos, which got back into the groove by easily downing Maccabi. Can the reigning-champs reaffirm their prowess or will the guests be able to strike revenge.

Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Round 23 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

### How much does experience matter?

Those with Final Four experience will tell you it makes a world of difference. And for this season’s semifinalists, that encompasses nearly all the key players from both Real Madrid and Olympiacos. On the other hand, it is hard to imagine Panathinaikos winning the first semifinal without getting strong production from some of the following key contributors: [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/), Lessort, [Konstantinos Mitoglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/konstantinos-mitoglou/007866/), [Jerian Grant](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/jerian-grant/011204/), [Marius Grigonis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/marius-grigonis/002328/) and Antetokounmpo. All are Final Four first-timers. In face, everyone on the Greens' roster except [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) and [Ioannis Papapetrou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-papapetrou/005161/) are making their Final Four debuts on Friday. Their semifinals opponent, Fenerbahce, has a little more Final Four experience, but key players [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/scottie-wilbekin/006661/), Motley, [Georgios Papagiannis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/georgios-papagiannis/005844/) and [Dyshawn Pierre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/dyshawn-pierre/010560/) are all new to the big dance. 

So these facts beg the question: How much does Final Four experience matter? Nunn has played in the NBA Finals. Lessort has a medal from the Basketball World Cup. Grigonis and Vildoza have played at the Olympics. How much will those experiences prepare them? What about Wilbekin? He has played eight EuroLeague seasons and is the leading scorer among players to have never made the Final Four. That will change tonight when he takes the floor. Will all that experience plus a EuroCup championship run as MVP of those finals prepare him for the Final Four pressure? We will be able to approach the question of how much experience matters with more subjects after this season's first semifinal. 

We asked the EuroLeague.net staff what four questions they are left with needing answers for as the semifinals look in Berlin on Friday.

Four final questions before Friday's semis

What can we learn about the four remaining contenders for the EuroLeague crown from their statistics? Plenty!

A look at the Final Four teams by the numbers

A couple of the teams that are battling for the EuroLeague crown in Berlin have thrived on defense, another two ruled on offense. Not all four teams did well in close games, while several key players from each team hope to bring their playoff form to the Final Four.

### Will defenses make an impact (again)?

Last season we witnessed a low-scoring Final Four where no team scored 80 points in any of the four games and in three of those, the losing side was held to 66 points or fewer. This season, Olympiacos arrives in Berlin with the best scoring defense, having held opponents to 74.4 points, and Panathinaikos ranks second in that category with a defense that has allowed 77.8 points per contest.

Olympiacos's strength is holding opponents to 51.3% two-point shooting, a category in which Real Madrid ranked first this season (51.0%). Panathinaikos allowed 34.0% on three-pointers, which was second-best in the league and the same percentage as Real.

These are not the only stellar defensive numbers by the Final Four teams.

Olympiacos leads the league in steals (7.1 spg.) and EuroLeague Best Defender [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/) leads all players [with 60 steals](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2023&statisticMode=accumulated&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=steals). He is accountable for 21.7% of all steals that Olympiacos recorded this season.

Real Madrid leads the league in blocks (3.6 pbg.) with [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) (1.51 bpg.) and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) (1.50 bpg.) as the league's [top two shot-blockers](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2023&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=blocksFavour). Poirier's and Tavares's combined total of 101 blocks entering this Final Four is[ 13 more than the entire Fenerbahce team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/key-stats-teams/?size=1000&misc=&seasonCode=E2023&category=BlocksFavour&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&aggregate=accumulated), and just 4 blocks fewer than the entire Olympiacos team – and in fewer games, too.

### How the teams did in close games

When it comes to games decided by 5 points or fewer in regulation, or games that went into overtime, the Final Four teams had different success during the regular season and the playoffs. Olympiacos did the best in such games and [had the most of them](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/standings/?season=2023-24&type=Margins&phase=REGULAR%20SEASON) with a 13-5 record. Among those, the Reds played four overtime games and were 3-1 in them.

Real Madrid was 10-4 in games decided by 5 or fewer points or overtime. Their games went into extra sessions three times and *Los Blancos* won two of those, including a four-overtime classic against Anadolu Efes Istanbul in January.

Fenerbahce had the most overtime games with six and won all but one of them, including twice after overtime in its five-game playoff series. But Fenerbahce is only 3-8 in games decided by 5 points or less in regulation.

Meanwhile, Panathinaikos is 4-7 in games decided by 5 or fewer points or overtime and lost each of its three overtime games this season.

### Star players who elevated their performances in the playoffs

Some of the EuroLeague's biggest stars stepped up in a major way during the playoffs and are poised to continue the trend in Berlin.

Tavares averaged 9.6 points with 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in the regular season, but had 10.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and a playoff single-series record 2.7 blocks in the playoffs. [Nick Calathes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nick-calathes/001932/) improved his 6.5 points and 0.7 three-pointers made per game on 35.6% shooting to 11.8 points and 1.8 triples per game on 40.0% shooting.[ Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/), who had 12.1 points for Panathinaikos during the regular season, improved that to 15.2 in the playoffs.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens guard Kendrick Nunn dominated in the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, averging 19.2 points, 3.2 triples made on 51.6% shooting in the series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Kendrick Nunn's top plays in the 2024 playoffs

[Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) had 15.4 points, making 1.8 threes on 38.5% accuracy before the playoffs. Then his numbers jumped to 19.2 points and 3.2 triples made on 51.6% shooting in the series against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv. The numbers skyrocketed to 26.0 points, 4.7 triples made on 56.0% shooting in the final three games of the series.

Olympiacos's [Shaquielle McKissic's](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shaquielle-mckissic/007853/) contribution improved across the board. After playing 14:30 per game and posting 5.9 points on 29.6% three-point shooting with 1.1 rebounds and just 0.8 assists and 0.7 steals in the regular season, McKissic shined with 12.0 points on 35.3% shooting, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals in the playoffs. [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) went from 5.5 points on 48.2% two-point shooting and 3.2 rebounds, to 10.2 points on 58.1% shooting and 4.4 rebounds in a series against FC Barcelona.

Meanwhile, their teammate [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/), who started the playoffs after recovering from injury, posted 9.0 points on 77.8% shooting and 10.5 rebounds in the last two games of the playoffs, improving on 8.5 points, 61.0% shooting and 5.6 rebounds in 21 regular-season appearances.

### Fener's offense before and after Saras

Fenerbahce enters the Final Four having allowed 34.5% shooting on three-pointers, and 54.1% on twos, which ranks fifth and eighth respectively, but the asset that got the team this far has not been its defense, rather the team's offense, especially since Coach Saras Jasikevicius took over mid-December.

Before the coaching change, in 13 games under Coach Dimitris Itoudis, the team averaged 80.8 points. Over the 26 games since then, that average went up to 86.8 points per game.

The most significant change has been Fenerbahce's tendency to shoot three-pointers and it did so more successfully than any other team in the league.

Under Itoudis, Fenerbahce finished five of 13 games making less than 10 triples and averaged 10.2 triples per game. With Jasikevicius, that number went up to 12.2, finishing only six of 26 games with fewer than 10 made three-pointers.

For the entire season, the team average is an all-time best 11.5 threes, which is nearly 0.4 triples per game more than the previous single-season record. Fenerbahce attempts 29.1 threes per game, third-most ever, and enters the Final Four shooting a league-best 39.5% from downtown this season.

The FanZone at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in the German capital promises to be among the largest and most exciting ever. The three-day event at Kraftwerk Berlin will be packed with engaging activities, stores and indoor and outdoor spots to sample the gastronomy of Berlin, making it the perfect place for sports fans to visit or for casual passers-by to be entertained. 

The FanZone at Kraftwerk Berlin is the place to be at the Final Four

The FanZone at the 2024 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four in the German capital promises to be among the largest and most exciting ever. The four-day event at [Kraftwerk Berlin](https://kraftwerkberlin.de/en/) will be packed with engaging activities, stores and indoor and outdoor spots to sample the gastronomy of Berlin, making it the perfect place for sports fans to visit or for casual passers-by to be entertained.

As always, the main events at the FanZone revolve around basketball. In addition to scheduled appearances by players from the Final Four teams on Saturday morning, the main court and half-court will host 3x3 and 5x5 tournament games every day. There will also be One Team sessions with Final Four players and ambassadors, and the annual ANGT slam dunk & three-point shootout on Saturday evening with Euroleague Legends as the judges.

Basketball is a team sport and so is the FanZone! When the games of the Final Four are being played, fans can enjoy a watch party at Kraftwerk Berlin’s Main Stage with the broadcasts on a giant screen. That same spot will also host a concert on Saturday evening and live podcasts all weekend long.

The Euroleague Basketball family of partners is offering several stands for fans to visit. Turkish Airlines will set up a 360º rotating selfie photo booth alongside other games to play for prizes. Motorola will include a spot for fans to test their vertical leap and shooting skills. BKT offers fans the exclusive chance to be photographed with the EuroLeague Trophy and to play arcade games. OlyTV Studio will introduce a virtual reality three-point shooting game. And you won’t be able to leave the FanZone without your merch from the Spalding store.

The FanZone will have edible treats available for purchase as well. At the beer garden and food market, fans can find Gaston, Style your Burger, Noodeli, Berliner Genussmanufaktur Ice Cream and the Uludag food truck with the best doner kebabs in town.

Kraftwerk Berlin in the district of Mitte is a trendy exhibition hall set up on the site of an old thermal power plant. In the past, it has hosted concerts, operas, art shows and Ted Talks. And now it will play a central role as Berlin takes on the honor of global sports capital for the weekend of May 24 to 26.

The trendy spot in the German capital will host the annual FanZone from May 24 to 26. Meet players, see the EuroLeague Trophy, and enjoy games, food and fun.

The FanZone at Kraftwerk Berlin is the place to be at the Final Four 

Team Barcelona, led by the influencers Tresco and Ari Geli, won the EuroLeague's Hoop District Tournament in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday.

Hoop District Finals: Team Barcelona is the first-ever champion!

After a thrilling evening of basketball and entertainment, the 2024 Hoop District champion has been crowned as Team Barcelona beat Team Berlin 22-7 in the final. Led by team captain [Tresco](https://www.instagram.com/tresco_ball) and co-star [Ari Geli](https://www.instagram.com/arigelii/), Team Barcelona lost 18-20 to [C-Bas](https://www.instagram.com/cbas/)’s Team Berlin earlier in the evening but were able to exact some revenge once the €10,000 cash prize was on the line.

Team Berlin was the favorite heading into the final after being the only team to go a perfect 3-0, but Tresco’s Team Barcelona squad caught fire at just the right time to emerge as the champion. In particular, Tresco hit back-to-back three-pointers in the final minutes and then struck once more to guarantee the victory.

After a thrilling evening of basketball and entertainment, the 2024 Hoop District champion has been crowned as Team Barcelona beat Team Berlin 22-7 in the final. Led by team captain Tresco and co-star Ari Geli, Team Barcelona lost 18-20 to C-Bas’s Team Berlin earlier in the evening but were able to exact some revenge once the €10,000 cash prize was on the line.

Hoops District/Off-Court gave the Final Four a new twist

As soon as the final buzzer sounded, Tresco and Ari Geli immediately sought each other before coming together as a group to celebrate. Speaking immediately afterward, Tresco told [EuroLeague.net](http://EuroLeague.net): “It’s unreal. First of all, I want to say thanks to the EuroLeague for organizing this. I know it’s a huge effort from them and I think us as creators have to support this, take the best out of it, create content around \[it\] because this has to stay for a long time.”

In fact, Tresco is already thinking about how Team Barcelona can defend their crown next year.

“I think this is huge, it’s the start of something new,” he added. “Next year we will be back and we’ll go for the second crown. Congrats to all the teams, it was so fun – in Paris and here in Berlin.”

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7Uh0z6tQOf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7Uh0z6tQOf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7Uh0z6tQOf/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@euroleague)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

It was Team Barcelona which got the Hoop District Finals underway, beating [SBB](https://www.instagram.com/sbb_uk/)’s Team London 19-17 in the opening game. Team Berlin caused the first big upset of the day by coming out on top against [Jamad Hussean](https://www.instagram.com/_jamaaad)’s All-Star Team, 21-12, then Team Berlin got another win by knocking off Team Barcelona, 20-18. Team London got back on track by grabbing a 17-12 win against the All-Star Team, which saw Jamad Hussean’s side get eliminated. Tresco and Team Barcelona also responded to a defeat by securing a 21-10 triumph over the All-Star Team. To finish the games before the final, Team Berlin beat Team London 14-18 to give themselves a chance to play for the cash prize.

- GAME 1: Team Barcelona 19-17 Team London
- GAME 2: Team Berlin 21-12 All-Star Team
- GAME 3: Team Berlin 20-18 Team Barcelona
- GAME 4: Team London 17-12 All-Star Team
- GAME 5: Team Barcelona 21-10 All-Star Team
- GAME 6: Team London 14-18 Team Berlin
- FINAL: Team Berlin 7-22 Team Barcelona

The team led by Tresco and Ari Geli took home the €10,000 prize

### Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach

"Olympiacos is an unbreakable team on defense. They hold the game to fewer possessions and don't allow you to have a lot of freedom on offense. We like to play fluid, fun-to-watch basketball and they will want us not to make the most out of those skills. They are solid defensively and manage to slow down the game, preventing the opponent from finding advantages. It is an extraordinary, championship-level club. Good people make good clubs, and Olympiacos is full of good people. Bartzokas is the soul of the team, an absolute leader. He is a mirror in which I look up to and a gentleman off the court. He gives the club poise and character. They always return to the game even if they are losing. We won't reach 100 points against Olympiacos and will have to fight for ever ball. Defense is key for them to win the championship, and this is what brought us here. Olympiacos has very good frontcourt players and competes well in the paint, with a lot of resources. They also have players able to generate plays. They have their weapons and we have ours."

### Facu Campazzo, Real Madrid guard

"We have to trust the work we have been putting in during these last 8-9 months, to have confidence in that. We have worked very well and that will not change from one day to another. We have to carry on this way and trust each other. Olympiacos plays very good defense in all pick-and-roll aspects. We have to try to play our game and impose our identity, our playing style, running the floor. I think it will be key to control the rebounds. They play really well in the last 6-7 seconds \[of each possession\], that's where they get stronger. We have to be patient because we will have to play defense on long possessions."

### Dzanan Musa, Real Madrid forward

"We will try to be the first team to win the title after finishing first in the regular season. The tradition is not in our favor, but we believe. We don't trust the tradition. We trust our work during the season. I was in tryouts with Olympiacos when I was 13 or 14, and I had one or two practices with Coach Bartzokas and I know how great of a coach he is. All their players have so much confidence because of him.

"Olympiacos has a lot of talent, and we respect them and we know they are very dangerous. As a matter of fact, I think each team here deserves to be here. It will come down to who is more prepared, and also who is luckier. But I think we had a great season so far, finishing first in a EuroLeague that some say was the best ever. We are enjoying the moment and enjoying defending the title."

### Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid forward

"We play against a historic team with very good players. We know them first-hand and in this type of competition, we have to focus on our own work, knowing that we play against a very good opponent with a lot of experience. If we play at our usual level as we were during the season, we will have a very good chance to make it to another final. We know we play against a team that fights hard and is very physical. We must be tough from the beginning of the game. They will have a lot of fans in the stands. We are in front of a very good, yet very demanding opportunity."

Game Videos

### Luke Sikma, Olympiacos Piraeus forward  

"Their record speaks for themselves. Real Madrid had an unbelievable year as defending champs. Obviously a lot of offensive firepower and playing a high pace. We have to do our work defensively and try to control the pace. There's going to be some big boys battling it out down there tomorrow, a lot of size, so it will be fun to watch again on both sides of the anchors of the defense. It's going to be tough to get an easy bucket tomorrow. They want to play really fast, and we don't want to play into their game. So more than anything, we want to be solid defensively and trust that we will get the shots we want on offense. That's the plan."

### Nikola Milutinov, Olympiacos Piraeus center 

"The ticket for the game was hard to find, even for the family, but we managed to get some. I came to win the title with Olympiacos, and that would be the crown of my career. Real has quality at each position, it is not just their centers. But I think we also have a quality roster and we can match them. We have to give extra effort to win. The entire season they showed they have the best offense. They played phenomenal basketball and they deserved to be first. We have to be careful with the basketball, try to set a slower rhythm. If we allow them to play in their own rhythm, we don't stand a chance, it will be an easy game for them."

### Alec Peters, Olympiacos Piraeus forward  

"I think we match up pretty well against them. I think we did both times against them in the regular season. We know what's at stake here with them being the defending champ, them beating us last year in the championship game and hopefully that can carry us and keep us inspired. And tomorrow it can be anybody's game. We have to control a lot. Defensively, they have great pace, a lot of offensive weapons that can hurt you from everywhere. So our defensive game has to be at its best. It's got to be one of our best of the season and that's what guides us and that's what gives us momentum hopefully in the offensive end as well. We can't give them a whole lot of room defensively... I still remember not playing one minute in the championship game last year, so that still sits with me and it's not a great feeling. Now that I'm back here, I'm hoping for a different story and hoping for a different result."

Game News

The second semifinal is a rematch of last season’s championship game, which came down to the final shot before Real Madrid triumphed. 

Bold predictions: Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos

Bold predictions: Panathinaikos vs. Fenerbahce

FanZone reaches new heights at Kraftwerk Berlin

Memories for the stars in the stands

Four final questions before Friday's semis

A look at the Final Four teams by the numbers

The FanZone at Kraftwerk Berlin is the place to be at the Final Four

Hoop District Finals: Team Barcelona is the first-ever champion!

Alec Peters, Olympiacos: 'It's anybody's game'