Facundo Campazzo reflects on Real Madrid’s EuroLeague loss to Panathinaikos, which has further trimmed Los Blancos' playoff chances. He also discusses his team's inconsistent season, the controversial Final Four in Abu Dhabi, and Luka Doncic’s surprising trade to the Lakers.
The atmosphere at the OAKA arena was electric on Thursday evening, as Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens delivered a statement victory over Real Madrid, securing an 85-70 win in Round 28 of the EuroLeague regular season.
Points this season
Real Madrid
EuroLeague
While the Greek giants celebrated a crucial result in their pursuit of Final Four contention, Real Madrid's struggles on the road continued to raise concerns.
Los Blancos' loss in Athens was their 14th overall and 10th on the road in 14 contests away from the Spanish capital.
Facundo Campazzo, a key figure in Madrid’s backcourt, couldn't help but acknowledge the difficulties his team faced in that game - and in the season at large.
Facundo Campazzo, a key figure in Madrid's backcourt, couldn't help but acknowledge the difficulties his team faced in that game – and in the season at large.
"We had the opportunity to get the win, but we couldn't get it right from the 3-point line," Campazzo, 32, admitted postgame in a chat with BasketNews.
"I think we had a good shot selection. But when you don't convert and give Panathinaikos opportunities, they capitalize. They can score from anywhere, and we let them run and create a margin we couldn't overcome."
Panathinaikos, meanwhile, have assembled a roster built to contend for the title. The arrival of Lorenzo Brown balanced the departure of Luca Vildoza, while Wenyen Gabriel has filled the void left by the long-time injured Mathias Lessort.
With an 18-10 record, the Greek club looks like a legitimate Final Four threat for the second straight season.
Campazzo thinks that the current version of the reigning champs is more or less similar to the squad that lifted the trophy last year.
"They are always going to compete and always aspire to the top with the team that they have, guided by Kostas Sloukas and Kendrick Nunn. I think it's an extremely talented and winning team that can go all the way," he commented.
Credit Panagiotis Moschandreou/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images
While the move reflects the league's commercial ambitions, it has sparked criticism regarding its impact on traditional fans.
Campazzo shared similar concerns and didn't shy away from addressing what most players and executives wouldn't talk about.
"There's a lot of interest in places like Abu Dhabi," he observed.
"The bad thing is
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Giorgos Kyriakidis