A … stroll together with Toupane (vid)

Olympiacos got a comfortable victory over Rethymno at the SEF (84-60) for the 8th day of the Betshop Bakset Leageu. Axel Toupane returned to action in today after three weeks he had been inactive due to injury.

David Blatt chose to rest Vassilis Spanoulis and Janis Timma, while during the game he saw to maintain strength in view of the important game against Anadolu Efes at the SEF (13/12, 17.45 CET) for the 12th round of the Euroleague.

Williams-Goss, Strelnieks, Vezenkov, LeDay and Bogris were the starters and despite the first five minutes were more of a 'scouting' probe, the team found rhythm and with Goss leading the offense, the 'reds' built a difference of +11 (22-11, at 7'). The coach's rotation temporarily de-calibrated the 'reds' which Rethymno took advantage of and with a 7-0 partial run closed in at 4p. (22-18). However, Olympiacos regained complete control playing aggressive defense and using the fast break, sending the difference to +19 (44-25 at 15') and closed the first half at +14 (49-35).

Relying on their defense, the 'reds' widened the distance even further and closed the 3rd quarter leading with 25p. (68-43). The outlook remained the same into the 4th quarter. David Blatt saw to rest key players; however, Olympiacos maintained a steady lead and won with characteristic ease.

The quarters: 27-20, 49-35, 68-46, 84-60

Οlympiacos (Blatt): Williams-Goss 14 (8 as.), Τoliopoulos 2, Τoupane 7 (1), Μilutinov 10, Strelnieks 13 (2), Vezenkov 8 (1), Printezis 11 (10 reb.), Papanikolaou 8 (1), Mantzaris 2, Αgravanis, Bogris 3, LeDay 6 (6 reb.).

Rethymno CRETAN KINGS (Ζiagkos): Johnson 8 (1), Christodoulou 14 (2), Bart 12 (1), Clanton 4, Daniels 5 (1), Sigkounas, Kalogiannidis, Glyniadakis, Razis 3 (1), Bracey-Davis 10 (1), Kourepis, Jones 4.

«Everyone played well»

David Blatt commented: "I think that my players played hard and as a team on both ends of the floor. As I have said before, no game is easy until you make it one. I think that Rethymno played very good basketball and I'm happy we have had the chance to give minutes to all twelve players. They all played well. It's only positive that we saw Axel Toupane on the floor again. We missed him. I'm also happy we had the chance to rest Spanoulis and Timma".