PAOK departs Thessaloniki for Italy: A friendly tour carrying a tactical puzzle

The atmosphere at Thessaloniki airport this morning did not feel like an ordinary business trip. The smiles on the faces of PAOK members said more than any press conference. But behind that comfort lies a big question the coaching staff must answer in the next two weeks: where does this team stand on the tactical map of European basketball?

PAOK's flight landed in Venice, then traveled by road to Udine. The first destination is the memorial tournament for Piera Pagetta, mother of the Udine club president. The first opponent on September 5 is Udine, and if they advance, they will face the winner of the Reggio Emilia vs Napoli match on September 6. Then comes a friendly against Armani Milan in Biella on September 12.

Four matches, four Serie A opponents, one week. For a team in the pre-season phase, this is not just an opportunity to test the squad but also a test of adaptability.

From a tactical perspective, the most notable thing about this trip is not the win-loss record, but how PAOK handles the difference in playing tempo. Udine is known for full-court pressing, while Armani Milan under Ettore Messina prefers controlling tempo and maximizing every possession. These are two completely opposite extremes: one accelerates the pace, the other suffocates space.

Historically, Greek teams have often struggled against Italian teams with good game-reading ability. The difference lies in philosophy: Greek basketball leans toward feel and individual creativity, while Italian basketball emphasizes system and tactical discipline. PAOK will have to find a balance between these two schools.

Interestingly, the schedule is very well arranged. The match against Udine on September 5 will be the first test of ability to withstand pressure. If they advance, the semi-final against Reggio Emilia or Napoli will be a test of patience. Reggio Emilia plays slow, methodical basketball, while Napoli favors fast offense. Two different styles will force PAOK to have separate tactical plans.

The match against Armani Milan on September 12 is the most watchable one. This is not an ordinary friendly. Armani Milan is one of the richest and most organized clubs in Europe, with a star-studded roster and an influential head coach. For PAOK, this is an opportunity to measure the gap between them and EuroLeague standards.

I have followed many pre-season friendlies of European teams, and one thing I have learned is: the value of these matches lies not in the result but in how the team handles specific situations. A team can lose all four matches and still consider it a success if they find a stable tactical framework, know how to rotate the squad, and discover weaknesses to fix.

However, there is a perspective not many people notice: this trip is also a test of spirit. Playing away, in front of not-so-friendly stands, with nothing to lose, PAOK's young players will have the opportunity to show their character. This cannot be measured by statistics, but it greatly determines the development of a collective.

Another thing to mention is the nature of the memorial tournament. These tournaments usually have a more open atmosphere, but they can also create complacency. PAOK must avoid falling into this psychological trap. A loss in a friendly is not shameful, but a lack of focus can have long-term consequences.

Looking further, this tour also carries strategic significance. Being in Italy, playing against Serie A teams, helps PAOK build relationships and open future cooperation opportunities. In the context of increasingly integrated European basketball, these relationships can become valuable intangible assets.

So where is the blind spot in this story? It is that we have no specific information about the squad, about new players, or about PAOK's internal issues. All we know is that they departed with smiles. Is that a smile of confidence, or just a cover for instability? We cannot be sure.

I recall the summer of 2026, when I followed another Greek team at a friendly tournament in Spain. They won all three matches, but when the official season began, they struggled and had to replace the coach after 10 rounds. Conversely, some teams lose all friendlies but have a brilliantly successful season. These matches do not tell the whole story.

The key is that PAOK must clearly define the goal of this trip. If the goal is to test the squad, they need to give young players more minutes. If the goal is to build confidence, they need good results. If the goal is to find the ideal framework, they need to experiment with many options. Everything is possible, but not all at once.

The match against Armani Milan will be the most accurate measuring stick. Messina is a tactical master, and even in a friendly, he will surely have his own tests for his players. PAOK must read those signals and respond intelligently.

There is a story I often tell young people when they ask how to evaluate a friendly: look at how the team handles three specific situations — transition defense, offense against a set defense, and ball handling at decisive moments. If PAOK does all three well in four matches in Italy, they can confidently enter the new season.

The flight has taken off. The smiles are still there. But ahead lie big questions that need answers. And the answers will come from how PAOK plays, not from promises in press conferences.

A dynasty does not fall with thunder, but with a slip in the final stoppage time. For PAOK, the question is not whether they win or lose in Italy, but what they learn from this trip so they do not slip when the official season begins.