When you consider the factors surrounding Maroussi’s game against PAOK today, it’s hard to be optimistic about the black-and-yellow ending its losing streak. Players awoke early this morning to catch an 8:35 am flight to Thessaloniki. It’s an hour-long flight but the team had been concerned about fog.
Yes, fog, as if the 0-15 squad needed another headache. Seems fog has been a longtime problem at the coastal airport in Thessalonki, Greece’s second-largest city. Who knew? Use that nugget at your next dinner party.
Alas, they landed as planned. As for the game (5 pm local time), Maroussi’s 17-year-old centers — Lampros Tsontzos and Dimitrios Agravanis — will have to deal with American big man Aaron Pettway. He’s not as skilled as Nana Harding, who went for 24 points and 14 rebounds last week against Maroussi, but he’s definitely bigger: 6-11, 250 pounds.
The 32-year-old Pettway, who took up basketball while in the U.S. Air Force after high school, told the Greek league’s official website, esake.gr, that “we need a win” after two consecutive losses. PAOK coach Soulis Markopoulos credited Maroussi’s toughness and said he’s not underestimating them, despite their financial and personnel issues.
Maroussi’s starting point guard Yannis Gagaloudis did not make the trip (see previous post). He’s averaging 15 points per game, so that leaves Nestoras Kommatos as Maroussi’s lone serious scoring threat. He is just off the league lead in scoring, at 20 ppg, but PAOK might want to consider double — hell, triple-teaming him — all day. Kind of like the New England Patriots shutting down Hakeem Hicks and Victor Cruz, and making Mario Manningham beat them in the Super Bowl. That plan worked, right?
Former Boston Celtics player J.R. Giddens is questionable for PAOK with a wrist injury.
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