Coming off 13 consecutive wins, 2-0 in the EuroLeague, Olimpia is preparing to experience an extremely competitive week. The first game is on Wednesday 14, in Athens, against Olympiacos. It is a historically difficult game against one of the great European basketball teams of the last 15 years and coming off a big win in the derby against Panathinaikos. Olympiacos is a deep team, strong inside, it is physical, tough team, which is not shooting well from the perimeter (25.5 percent) but is also forcing opposing teams to shoot badly (27.2 percent from three). This is a key aspect, because Olimpia in the first two games was capable to convert 42.2 percent of its three-point attempts, second overall, despite not having two of its best shooters, Kevin Punter and Vlado Micov, who will be missed this week, too.
OLIMPIA – Malcolm Delaney enters this game by leading Olimpia in points (13.0 per game) and the entire EuroLeague in assists (8.0). He will face the Sloukas-Spanoulis couple who has twice won the EuroLeague with Olympiacos alongside Kyle Hines (12.0 points per game, 64.3 percent from the field). The other playmaker from Milan, Sergio Rodriguez is shooting 50.0 percent from three-point range. The battle between the guards will be one of the most interesting themes of the game. Olimpia defeated Bayern on the road and Asvel at home, using s depth that was severely tested by the absences of Micov and Punter. Shavon Shields, decisive in Munich with the winning three in overtime, is averaging 13.0 points per game, like Delaney, and is the team’s best rebounder (5.5 per game).
COACH ETTORE MESSINA – “Olympiacos is like the Miami Heat in the States, it’s a team capable to play over a long tradition with solid organization, mental toughness and the leadership coming from their historic players like Spanoulis, Printezis and now Sloukas again. A physical game is awaiting us, every single possession will be crucial and the rebounding control could be the decisive factor of the game.”
KYLE HINES – “I will meet four guys who have won the EuroLeague with me at Olympiacos, so returning to Athens is a bit like coming back home and will give me the opportunity to relive those unforgettable moments for a few minutes, especially now that Sloukas is also back. But, of course, we are going to try to extend our good start in this long competition.”
OLYMPIACOS – Five players from Coach Bartzokas’ regular rotation came during the summer. Kostas Sloukas (4.5 assists per game) is returning after his spell at Fenerbahce where he won another EuroLeague alongside Gigi Datome. Charles Jenkins is a veteran who has played in the EuroLeague for years and ensures great defensive tenacity (1.5 steals per game on average). Aaron Harrison is a shooter who has just spent two years at Galatasaray, but he played at Kentucky and for a while in the NBA, in Charlotte. Hassan Adams is the classic undersized center (2.01) that Olympiacos has always sought from Hines to LeDay to Rubit. He comes from Buducnost where he was one of the best Eurocup players. In the first two games he went 10-for-11 from the field. Finally, the forward Livio Jean-Charles was signed from Asvel. Octavius Ellis is a classic center, who came from Promitheas in the middle of last season. He is grabbing 8.5 rebounds per game. During last season Shaquielle McKissic, a super athlete, was also signed. Then there are the many returning players, obviously starting with the legendary Vassilis Spanoulis and Georgios Printezis, as well as Kostas Papanikolau and Sasha Vezenkov.
THE OLYMPIACOS CONNECTION – Christos Stavropoulos, general manager of Olimpia Milano, spent 19 years at Olympiacos, winning the EuroLeague twice, among other things. Both triumphs included Kyle Hines, who stayed two years at Olympiacos before moving to CSKA Moscow. In two years at Olympiacos, Hines played 53 EuroLeague games scoring 503 points and getting 286 rebounds. Olympiacos coach Georgios Bartzokas also coached the team during Stavropoulos years. Kevin Punter of course spent a portion of last season with Olympiacos, but he won’t be available. Charles Jenkins, in his first season at Olympiacos, played with Olimpia during the 2015/16 season, winning the Italian Cup and the Italian championship. Andrea Cinciarini played with him. Zach LeDay spent a season at Olympiacos Piraeus two years ago before moving to Zalgiris Kaunas. Kostas Sloukas won the EuroLeague at Fenerbahce playing with Gigi Datome.
REFEREES – Miguel Angel Perez (Spain), Seffi Shemmesh (Israel), Hugues Thepenier (France).
NOTES – Sergio Rodriguez in the EuroLeague had a streak of 25 consecutive free throws made before missing the 26th. Still active is the streak of 15 games with at least one three made. Rodriguez enters this game in fourth place in the all-time assists list, just four assists behind Dimitris Diamantidis’ third place (1251 against 1255). Gigi Datome has an open streak of 15 free throws made. Kyle Hines has reached 200 steals for his during the games against Asvel. Hines also moved up to third place in the “All-Time” list of two-pointer made. Now he has 970.
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