Ex-Celtics Giddens, O’Bryant leave Greece

Former NBA first-round draft picks J.R. Giddens and Patrick O’Bryant — both of whom played for the Boston Celtics — have left their Greek clubs. Giddens had surgery in the United States to repair his injured left wrist. O’Bryant plans to play in Puerto Rico.

Giddens, 27, averaged 8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for PAOK in Thessaloniki. Like Maroussi, PAOK has major financial problems. Giddens almost left the team earlier this winter in a payment dispute, but the sides patched things up.

The swingman, selected 30th overall by the Celtics in the 2008 NBA draft, tweeted that he had surgery on his left wrist last Friday. The Celtics traded Giddens, a New Mexico alum, to the New York Knicks in February 2010.

O’Bryant left Kavala to take more money ($14,000 per month, according to www.basketnet.gr) in Puerto Rico, where he plans to sign with Mayaguez. The 7-footer was the Greek league’s top shot-blocker (1.5 per game) and averaged 9.6 points and 6 rebounds per game.

After playing Sunday, he tweeted: “Just played my last game as a Greek. Love this country. Except the refs. Takin my talents to Puerto Rico now.”

The Celtics signed O’Bryant to a 2-year, $3 million contract before the 2008-09 season. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors in February 2009. O’Bryant was the 9th overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft, selected by the Golden State Warriors. He’s an alum of Bradley University.

Don’t pull plug: Five signs of life (Video)

Nikos Linardos

Last weekend’s 92-80 loss to Rethymno extended Maroussi’s season-long losing streak to 18. But basically it was Week 1 of the new-look Maroussi. Four starters have left the cash-strapped club in the past month, the most recent being league-leading scorer Nestoras Kommatos, who joined his new team in Italy last Friday.

But coach Nikos Linardos must at least be mildly optimistic. His youngsters — the starting center is still in high school — play with heart and have nothing to lose. Here are a few points of optimism if you are a Maroussi fan heading into this weekend’s game at Peristeri (which at 6-12 is, dare I say, beatable?):

1. Turnovers: Point guard Lefteris Akepsimaidis, 24, protects the ball. Yannis Gagaloudis (now in Cyprus) led the league in assists (6 per game) and scored 15.5 points per game. He could make something from nothing. But he also led the league in turnovers (4 per game). Akepsimaidis had 2 turnovers Saturday along with 18 points and 7 assists. Two weeks ago, with Gagaloudis out of the lineup, Akepsimaidis didn’t turn it over once. In his past three games, he’s turned it over three times. Backcourt partner Giannis Demertzis (16 points, 6 assists Saturday) has 2 turnovers in the past three games.

2. Rebounding: Maroussi got hammered on the boards two weeks ago in a 40-point loss to Panionios, which had 43 rebounds to Maroussi’s 19. On Saturday, Maroussi outrebounded Rethymno 30 to 28.

3. Lampros Tsontzos: The 17-year-old center is staying out of foul trouble and gaining confidence. He played 32 minutes Saturday and recorded 10 rebounds (half on the offensive end). His only scoring was one free throw, but that will improve with time. Fellow 17-year-old big man Dimitrios Agravanis is more foul prone right now, but shows promise. He had 4 rebounds in 11 minutes Saturday. Both teenagers are 6-10.

4. New blood: In his debut, Andreas Kanonidis, 20, scored 15 points and had 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals (see video below). He previously was under contract with Panionios.

5. Shooting: Maroussi shot 56 percent inside the 3-point line Saturday, compared to 48 percent against Panionios. Five players scored in double figures Saturday. Vagel Sakellariou scored 15 points after averaging 3.3 ppg entering the game.

Elegar wins in Turkey; Kommatos loses in Italy

Nestoras Kommatos

After suffering through a season-long losing streak in Maroussi, Nestoras Kommatos and Frank Elegar saw their first action with their new clubs this weekend. Elegar tasted victory in Turkey, while Kommatos’ squad lost in Italy.

Elegar, 25, had a strong game Saturday, helping Antalya to an 88-83 road upset over Erdemir. The Drexel alum started alongside Philadelphia pals Corey Fisher and Scottie Reynolds. Fisher and Reynolds were teammates at Villanova. Elegar and Fisher are old friends from the same neighborhood in the Bronx.

Elegar was in the starting lineup and finished with 11 points and a team-high 9 rebounds. Fisher scored 24 points; Reynolds 19.

There’s another Philly connection: Erdemir’s leading scorer was La Salle alum K’Zell Wesson, 34. He scored 21 points and had 9 rebounds.

Kommatos, who led the Greek league in scoring (20.4 ppg) when he skipped town last week, started for second-division Sant’Antimo yesterday. They lost 77-67 to Enel Brindisi. The 34-year-old scored just 4 points. He shot 1 of 6 from 3-point range. He had 10 rebounds and played 32 minutes.

Wright, Christmas earn co-MVP weekly honor

Zack Wright looks over the Maroussi defense

Zack Wright and Dionte Christmas are this weekend’s co-MVPs after leading Rethymno to a 92-80 victory over Maroussi.

This is Wright’s sixth MVP award this season and it’s the third consecutive week he’s captured the honor — the Greek league’s version of player of the week. Christmas now has two MVP honors this season.

Temple alum Christmas recorded his first double-double of the season with 21 points and 13 rebounds against winless Maroussi. Wright also scored 21 points. He was 9 of 11 from the field, with four rebounds and three steals. Both players had performance ratings of 31.

The official announcement is expected later today or tomorrow. Last week, Wright shared the award with Jon Diebler of Panionios (which defeated Maroussi 97-57).

Christmas records double-double; gives shout-out to young Maroussi

Lampros Tsontzos

This one is what they call a “good loss.” Maroussi’s veterans are gone, so the back-ups and some teen-aged kids from the junior squad gave it their best shot. The visitors from Cretewon 92-80, but young Maroussi (0-18) was in the game the whole way, and led by six points in the third quarter.

Halftime adjustments: Dionte Christmas (center) and Zack Wright talk strategy with an assistant coach.

Even the league’s leading scorer, Dionte Christmas, was impressed. Maroussi “held” Christmas to 21 points and 13 rebounds — his first double-double of the season. After the game, the former Temple star tweeted that he likes the team.

“Those young guys played real hard and had a lot of heart. I respect that team,” he tweeted.

Zack Wright also scored 21 points for Rethymno (11-7) on 9 of 11 shooting. Wright added four rebounds and three steals.

Considering Rethymno’s firepower and Maroussi’s lack thereof, they must feel pretty confident coming out of this one. Five Maroussi players scored in double figures, led by Lefteris Akepsimaidis (18 points, 7 assists). Giannis Demertzis had 16 points and 6 assists. Seventeen-year-old center Lampros Tsontzos pulled down 10 rebounds.

Maroussi led 44-41 at halftime but Rethymno’s Giorgos Koumoulos hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 47. Wright put Rethymno ahead for good late in the third when he drove, was fouled and hit both free throws for a 61-59 lead.

The visitors gave themselves breathing room when Koumoulos hit back-to-back 3-pointers again, making it 77-66 with seven minutes remaining. A Wright steal and long pass to Brent Petway for a dunk (see video) made it 83-71 at the 3:30 mark. Maroussi pulled within six points, but got no closer.

For Maroussi, it was the first time this season not having either leading scorer Nestoras Kommatos (20.4 ppg) or leading playmaker Yannis Gagaloudis (15 ppg, 6 apg) on the court. Like two starters before them, Kommatos (to Italy) and Gagaloudis (to Cyprus) left because of Maroussi’s financial problems.

Petway dunk:

Christmas 3-pointer:

Full-court press = victory?

I was researching some David vs. Goliath-type upsets and found a terrific Malcolm Gladwell article in The New Yorker from 2009. The sub-headline is ‘When underdogs break the rules’ — in basketball and other ventures, like wars.

For hoops, it presents examples of not-so-talented teams successfully using a full-court press to disrupt the flow of better-skilled opponents, and questions why the tactic is underused. Hmmm. Sounds like a team I know. Mind you, this is a physically exhausting strategy and European players are not exactly cardiovascular kings. Ex-Maroussi point guard Yannis Gagaloudis is a smoker (though darn quick, to be fair). And well-coached teams should be able to break presses.

Still, Maroussi is 0-17 and has a roster full of teenagers, so why not? Here’s an excerpt (bonus: it mentions The Cage) from the article:

“In January of 1971, the Fordham University Rams played a basketball game against the University of Massachusetts Redmen. The game was in Amherst, at the legendary arena known as the Cage, where the Redmen hadn’t lost since December of 1969. Their record was 11–1. The Redmen’s star was none other than Julius Erving—Dr. J. The UMass team was very, very good. Fordham, by contrast, was a team of scrappy kids from the Bronx and Brooklyn. Their center had torn up his knee the first week of the season, which meant that their tallest player was six feet five. Their starting forward—and forwards are typically almost as tall as centers—was Charlie Yelverton, who was six feet two. But from the opening buzzer the Rams launched a full-court press, and never let up. “We jumped out to a thirteen-to-six lead, and it was a war the rest of the way,” Digger Phelps, the Fordham coach at the time, recalls. “These were tough city kids. We played you ninety-four feet. We knew that sooner or later we were going to make you crack.” Phelps sent in one indefatigable Irish or Italian kid from the Bronx after another to guard Erving, and, one by one, the indefatigable Irish and Italian kids fouled out. None of them were as good as Erving. It didn’t matter. Fordham won, 87–79.”

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/11/090511fa_fact_gladwell#ixzz1nKj3Npsj

The article also points out that Rick Pitino was a freshman on that UMass team — today they’re the ‘Minutemen’ btw. He marveled at the effectiveness of the press and has used the tactic with great success as a college coach.

Might be worth a shot. After all Gagaloudis, Kommatos and Elegar are not walking through that door.

Can Maroussi stop Christmas?

Let’s see. Looks like engineers and lawyers are on strike (http://livingingreece.gr/strikes/), but not pilots and air traffic controllers. So, Maroussi’s opponent tomorrow — Rethymno — should arrive as planned in Athens sometime today from the island of Crete.

Maroussi players celebrating back in '01

That’s bad news for winless Maroussi, of course, because now they’ll have to face Dionte Christmas and Company tomorrow afternoon. Temple alum Christmas enters the game as the Greek league’s leading scorer (19.4 ppg). Maroussi’s Nestoras Kommatos (20.4 ppg) held that title until yesterday, when he signed with a team in Italy. Christmas, who played briefly in 2009 for the Philadelphia 76ers, scored a season high 41 points against league-leading Olympiakos.

The departure of Kommatos (see ‘Arrivederci’ post) means we won’t get to see what all of Athens — ok, me — has been buzzing about: a Larry Bird–Dominique Wilkins ’88 Game 7 style shootout between the league’s top scorers. (I just went to youtube and watched a 10-minute clip of that game. Good times, good times — and RIP Reggie Lewis and DJ).

Ok, so what will we see? Probably some insane dunks from Brent Petway of Michigan and Harlem Globetrotters fame. Christmas will hit some threes (he’s shooting 38 percent from out there), and point guard Zack Wright will do a little bit of everything. Wright’s efficient play has earned him five player of the week honors this season. The 6-2 Wright is the team’s leading rebounder (5.3 rpg) and he can throw down dunks, as well.

In a win last week, Christmas and Wright combined for 12 steals. Maroussi’s ball handlers, Lefteris Akepsimaidis and Giannis Demertzis, will need to be extra careful.

Since Kommatos left the building, cash-strapped Maroussi has just four professional players remaining on its roster.

The team had used teenagers from its junior squad to fill in gaps earlier this season, but now the kids are being asked to play significant minutes. Most of them are just 17 years old.

On the bright side, their two young centers Lampros Tsontzos and Dimitrios Agravanis are both 6-10. Realistically, Rethymno (10-7) should have the game wrapped up by halftime. What I would do, though, is start both Tsontzos and Agravanis, feed them the ball and encourage them to shoot literally every time they touch the ball. They’ve been playing pass-first with Kommatos on the floor.

If the two big kids can draw some attention, maybe 3-point specialist Prodromos Nikolaidis will find some room. Under pressure last week, Nikolaidis went 0-for-3.

Oh, and they should empty the bench to use up all of their fouls. Rethymno isn’t great from the foul line: Christmas and Petway, both 70 percent average, and Wright’s average is 59.4 percent.

Just thinking out loud.

Arrivederci: Kommatos to Italy

Nestoras Kommatos is taking his talents to Naples. The 34-year-old has signed a contract through the end of the season with second-division Sant’Antimo, the Italian team announced today.

It was just a matter of time, of course, because three Maroussi teammates, all of whom were starters, had left before him. Maroussi (0-17) is nearly broke and can barely pay its players. Sant’Antimo (6-13) is in last place and wants to avoid relegation next season.

Nestoras Kommatos

The Italians know Kommatos, who led the Greek league in scoring (20.4 ppg), will bring scoring punch to its frontcourt. The Greek forward shot 56 percent inside the 3-point line and 34.5 percent beyond it. Kommatos averaged 6.6 rebounds per game, good for seventh-best in Greece.

Kommatos is a two-time All Star in Greece and was having something of a resurgent season. He and point guard Yannis Gagaloudis helped make Maroussi a fun team to watch, even as they lost, sometimes in heartbreaking fashion. Gagaloudis, now in Cyprus, was the quick playmaker with a quick temper, while Kommatos was the quiet one, piling up points. Frank Elegar (see ‘Elegar signs with Turkish team’) dunked and blocked shots while Dimitris Haritopoulos (now in France) was the blue-collar power forward.

Two memories of Kommatos jump out to me. First was his 40-point night in Thessaloniki recently, when Gagaloudis was absent. He basically was the team’s only scoring threat but still found ways to get open and sink shots (including seven 3-pointers). Maroussi lost 86-82.

A heartbreaker for Maroussi fans was Jan. 7 at home to Drama. At that point, Maroussi was 0-10 and still had hopes of turning its season around, if only it could break into the win column.

Maroussi led by 12 points but Drama chipped away in the second half — that Jeremy Hunt can shoot; I see why Coach Cal reinstated him at Memphis in 2006. Down 75-74, Gagaloudis drove into the lane and missed. Might have been fouled. A scramble for the rebound sent the ball out of bounds under the basket. Maroussi retained possession with just over 1 second remaining.

Kommatos came around a screen, took the pass and went up to shoot from about 18 feet, near the baseline. His defender even slipped a bit, giving him a nice look at the basket. The ball skimmed over the rim, hit the far side of the rim, and bounced straight out. Buzzer. Game over. Kommatos fell backward and laid on the court in disbelief.

In Italy, Kommatos will work with another successful point guard, Troy Bell, 31. He’s averaging 23 ppg in five games for Sant’Antimo. Bell played at Boston College and was the 16th pick in the 2003 draft, taken by the Boston Celtics, who traded his rights to the Memphis Grizzlies in a deal that brought Kendrick Perkins to Boston.

Kommatos played briefly for Bologna in 2006. He’s also played in Turkey, Israel, Russia and Spain.

Elegar signs with Turkish team

Frank Elegar has signed with Antalya in Turkey’s top division, and it looks like an unofficial Bronx-and-Philly reunion.

Elegar, 25, was the lone import for financially troubled Maroussi. He averaged 9 points (59 percent from the field) and 5 rebounds per game from the center position but left about two weeks ago when the winless team told players that it ran out of money to pay salaries.

At Antalya, Elegar’s new teammates include fellow Bronx native Corey Fisher, 23. Both played their college ball in Philadelphia; Fisher for Villanova and Elegar for Drexel. Also on the roster is Scottie Reynolds, who was Fisher’s teammate at Villanova. Reynolds was cut by the Utah Jazz this pre-season.

Former Boston Celtics first round draft pick (11th overall in 2001) Kedrick Brown, 30, plays for Antalya (4-14), as well. Brown was traded to Cleveland in December 2003. He also played for the 76ers. He averaged 3.6 ppg in 143 NBA games spanning four seasons.

The Celtics also drafted Joseph Forte with the 21st pick in 2001. Among the players they passed on? Tony Parker, taken with the last pick of the first round by the San Antonio Spurs. Just sayin.

Elegar and Brown were teammates two years ago in Turkey when they played for Bornova Belediye.

Video: Fans pelt refs with water bottles

Here’s a video of fans in Peristeri throwing stuff at referees after the home team lost 75-62 to Rethymno, back on December 17. The game was sparsely attended, but this crew had been on the refs for much of the second half after they made some calls against the local side.

For what it’s worth, I thought they called a fair game. In fact, the worst call was on Rethymno’s Dionte Christmas, who penetrated into the lane, got mauled as he jumped to shoot, and landed with the ball in his hands. He was called for traveling.

The video is post-game. The Peristeri players had left the court. Then, the Rethymno players left (stuff was thrown at them, as well — video of that later). Last up were the refs. For reasons beyond my understanding, they strolled center court to the tunnel, instead of, oh I don’t know, jogging perhaps?

The bottles were plastic and no one appeared to be injured. I read later that Peristeri was fined 1,500 euro. Peristeri’s coach (in suit) escorts the refs.

Ex-Maroussi star nets 30 points in Cypriot debut

From the Kings of Maroussi International News Desk:

Two days after leaving Maroussi (0-17), Yannis Gagaloudis tasted victory on Sunday in Cyprus. He scored 30 points and handed out 6 assists to lead his new team, Apollon Limassol, to a 89-85 win over previously undefeated Keravnos in Cypriot League action. The veteran point guard started the game and played 34 minutes.

Yannis Gagaloudis

Hmm, sounds familiar … Jeremy Lin dazzled in his first start for the New York Knicks on February 6. They defeated the Utah Jazz 99-88.

The parallels don’t end there. Well, sort of. Lin isn’t prone to picking up technical fouls and I’m guessing he doesn’t smoke. Lin is also 10 years younger than the ex-Maroussi star.

Oh, and another thing: Lin only scored a measly 28 points in his debut as a starter on a new squad.

Gagaloudis and Maroussi parted ways Thursday. The next day, he was on a plane to Cyprus. Financially troubled Maroussi has barely been able to pay its players this season. Other players also skipped town.

Gagaloudis, 33, hit three 3-pointers and sank 13 of 15 free throws in his Cypriot debut.

Gagaloudis signs in Cyprus

Well, any slim hope Maroussi (0-17) had of winning a game this season just took a crushing blow. Yannis Gagaloudis, the team’s talented and hot-tempered point guard, left today for Cyprus to play for Appollon Limassol.

Yannis Gagaloudis

Gagaloudis led the Greek league in assists (6 per game) and was a top-10 scorer (15.6 ppg). He had a double-double (16 points 10 assists) in his final game, a 97-57 loss to Panionios on Wednesday evening.

The move was not a surprise. The 33-year-old recently told me that Maroussi’s financial situation — the team’s owner simply stopped paying players — was weighing on him. The team has been unable to sign imported players because of a FIBA ban, which resulted from Maroussi failing to pay a former player.

“Every day we come and we don’t know how many players we have,” Gagaloudis said.

Power forward Dimitris Haritopoulos was the first out the door. He’s playing in France. Frank Elegar was next. The American center is headed to Turkey, although he hasn’t signed a contract yet.

Now the countdown is on for Nestoras Kommatos, the league’s leading scorer (20.4 ppg). Like Gagaloudis, Kommatos has international experience, and has indicated he’s willing to leave.

Smart money is on Kommatos leaving before Maroussi’s next game, which is February 25 against Rethymno.

Maroussi now has just five professionals on its roster. It has been relying on amateurs from its junior team to eat up minutes.

Sink threes, win prize … Diebler, Wright co-MVPs

Jon Diebler‘s barrage of 3-pointers against Maroussi has earned him co-MVP honors with Zack Wright of Rethymno. Yes, the same Zack Wright who was named MVP last weekend.

You’ll recall that Maroussi’s Nestoras Kommatos had a good case for the honor after scoring 40 points Saturday against PAOK. But the system rewards players on teams that “win.” The award is the Greek league’s version of player of the week.

Jon Diebler

Diebler hit six 3-pointers — including a buzzer-beater at the half — and finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead Panionios to a 97-57 victory over the Maroussi Six (as in, they only have six professionals on the roster, seriously).

Wright led Rethymno to a 81-71 win over PAOK on his home court in Crete. He scored 18 points, had 7 steals, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 4 turnovers. Rethymno was in control throughout. The 6-2 Wright’s dunk late in the third quarter gave his team a 15-point lead.

This is Wright’s fifth MVP award this season. His teammate Dionte Christmas had 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals in last night’s win.

Why is that important? Maroussi’s next opponent is Rethymno, at home on February 25. No game this Saturday.

Wright has shared the award twice before — with Georgios Printezis of Olympiakos, and with former Boston Celtics center Patrick O’Bryant of Kavala.

Maroussi loses ugly; Diebler hits six 3s

So many of Maroussi’s games — OK, losses, — have at least been fun to watch. Last-second shots that missed. Close games against powerhouses Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. The point guard getting ejected for arguing with the referees. I could go on.

Tonight, though, was a night to learn Greek. Panionios defeated Maroussi 97-57 in a game that was over shortly after the opening tip-off. So to stay entertained, the fans in the section I sat in during the second half collectively counted up Jon Diebler‘s 3-pointers. “Tessera” they said when he sank his fourth, “penta” for the next, and finally “exi” for his sixth and final long ball.

Maroussi, its losing streak at a season-long 17 games, has just six professionals on its roster because of serious financial problems. Two starters left the team recently but until now they’ve been able to get by on adrenaline, plus two teen-aged centers. Perimeter defense has not been their forte, as I mentioned in yesterday’s post. And actually, defense in general has suffered because they simply don’t have extra bodies if someone gets into foul trouble. Panionios shot 65 percent inside the 3-point line, 45 percent beyond it.

Diebler, the league’s best 3-point shooter, scored 22 points and added 11 rebounds — both season highs. He was 6 of 8 on 3-point attempts (six 3s ties his season high). His buzzer-beater before halftime gave Panionios a 46-24 lead. Not that it mattered much, but the score was 41-24 with Maroussi trying to set up the final shot of the half, when guard Yannis Gagaloudis lost the ball out of bounds, then kicked it in frustration. A technical foul was called. Ex-Maroussi star Billy Keys, to whom Maroussi still owes money, sank the two foul shots and Panionios retained possession, leading to the inbounds pass to Diebler with 2 seconds on the clock. He sank it from the corner.

Gagaloudis, the fiery, bearded and super-quick playmaker, led Maroussi with 16 points and 10 assists, along with 7 turnovers. His drives and shooting kept the game from turning uglier than it already was. Nestoras Kommatos, the league’s leading scorer (21 ppg) entering the game, finished with 14 points. He was 1 of 6 from 3-point range. Kommatos was coming off a 40-point performance Saturday but Panionios wisely doubled-teamed him and successfully harassed him all night, clearly borrowing on Bill Belichick‘s ‘Make ’em go to Manningham’ game plan.

Seven-footer Zisis Sarikopoulos scored 17 points and guard Marios Batis added 16 points for Panionios (13-5). Both are former Maroussi players. Alex Stepheson (knee) did not dress.

Panionios outrebounded Maroussi 44 to 21. The winners connected on 13 of 29 3-point attempts and held Maroussi to 2 of 13 from behind the arc.

Maroussi a long shot to stop Diebler, Panionios?

I bet Jon Diebler is excited about playing Maroussi tomorrow night. They called him “3bler” at Ohio State. He holds the Big 10 record for most 3s. Diebler now plays for Panionios and is the best 3-point shooter in the Greek league.

'We gotta stop all these 3s!'

You know who doesn’t defend 3-pointers very well? Yup, the black-and-yellow (you know what it is). Maroussi’s last six opponents, on average, have connected on 53 percent of their 3-point attempts, compared to just 34 percent in the first 10 games of the season. In any case, Maroussi lost all 16 games.

The Portland Trail Blazers selected Diebler, 23, in the second round (51st overall) of last year’s draft. During the NBA lockout, he signed a one-year contract with Panionios, which also brought in power forward Alex Stepheson (6-9, 250 lbs), who went undrafted out of USC.

Diebler is shooting 53 percent from 3-point range. Only Konstantinos Sloukas of Olympiakos has a higher success rate (53.6 percent) but on far fewer attempts. Diebler’s scoring average is 9.4 points for the season, but nearly 12 points in the past eight games, as he’s become a more regular starter.

Maroussi is coming off an emotional loss (I can’t find the F key for that phrase, but it would be useful), 86-82, at PAOK on Saturday. Nestoras Kommatos scored 40 points and played nearly the entire game. We’ll see how the 34-year-old responds with just a few days rest. Unlike the NBA, it’s usually just one game per week here.

Kommatos is the league’s leading scorer, at close to 21 points per game. But it hasn’t been enough to get Maroussi in the win column. The club is nearly bankrupt and recently told its players that it probably won’t be able to pay them for the rest of the season. Two reliable starters, Frank Elegar and Dimitris Haritopoulos, left the team.

With a full squad earlier this season, Maroussi played Panionios tough in a 69-67 loss. Yannis Gagaloudis, who is still with the team although looking for other offers, led Maroussi with 18 points.

Stepheson (11.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg) hasn’t played since January 28 because of a knee injury. He’s missed four of the last six games. He’s doubtful for tomorrow night. Panionios is 7-1 at home — the one loss coming against Olympiakos (15-1).