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