Thessaloniki has four wins from four EuroCup games. Aris dominated Burgos, PAOK were tested in Sarajevo, and both have reasons to be optimistic. They also have plenty of work ahead.
Two rounds are not enough to predict how a team’s season will unfold. They are, however, enough to reveal certain aspects of its character. The early EuroCup performances of Aris and PAOK have been encouraging, albeit with different strengths and different issues to address. Their shared 2-0 record brings an early advantage in the standings, confidence and time to work. Its value will grow if they can build on it with further improvement over the coming weeks.
After winning away at Le Mans, Aris delivered a performance against Burgos that justified the excitement. Their 93-80 victory at the Alexandreio was built on a dominant first half, which ended with a 53-30 lead. Vassilis Spanoulis’ team played with energy, applied pressure and found contributions from several players. Nenad Dimitrijevic set the tone with 21 points and six assists, but having five players score in double figures better illustrates the breadth of the team’s effort.
That is the most encouraging takeaway for Aris: against the Spanish side, they functioned as a unit, with different players contributing through scoring, playmaking and intensity. Their home crowd provided the expected lift, and Aris turned it into an advantage on the court. There were still areas that require attention, though. Burgos’ second-chance opportunities and the narrowing of the gap in the second half are reminders that even a convincing win leaves room for corrections.
PAOK reached the same record through a different kind of test. After beating Manresa 93-78 in a game that required a fourth-quarter surge, they defeated Bosna 75-72 in Sarajevo. This time, the contest remained difficult until the very end. Andrea Trinchieri’s team could not consistently impose its rhythm, found itself chasing the score and had to handle the pressure of the final possessions.
The positive for PAOK is that they found a way to win on a night when they shot 7-for-32 from three-point range. Cedi Osman scored 17 points, Breein Tyree added 14 and Nick Calathes supplied seven assists, as PAOK found the answers they needed to leave with an away victory. Their opening two performances, however, also point to a clear priority: sustaining their level for longer stretches. Individual quality can change the course of a game, but PAOK need to reduce the periods in which they allow their opponents to feel comfortable.
The next round already brings fresh tests, with Aris facing Tortona and PAOK travelling to Lietkabelis. Each game will demand something different, and both teams will need consistency, adaptability and a better handle on their weaknesses. For Aris, the challenge is to reproduce their intensity and collective performance. For PAOK, it is to combine their ability to get results with a more consistent level of play.
Thessaloniki has every reason to enjoy this start. Aris and PAOK have taken positive first steps and shown qualities they can build on. From here, humility will be reflected in how they work after victories: demanding more of themselves, respecting their next opponents and recognising that 2-0 is still just the beginning.