A defeat in Barcelona
Olympiacos lost to Barcelona on the road 70-58 and is now at a 4-6 winning-loss record after ten games into the Euroleague TOP-16.
The Back2Back European Champions attacked inside the Barcelona post in the first quarter. Dunston and Shermadini were doing a good job and hence Olympiacos succeeded in leading 8-7 five minutes into the game, but the Catalans took the lead and the first quarter ended 18-13.
The ‘reds’ improved their defense in the second quarter, but in offense it was only Bryant Dunston that was finding the way to the hosts basket and half-time ended 33-27 for Barcelona.
Bryant Dunston continued doing a great job in the third quarter as well, Lojeski and Petway were assisting the American center and Olympiacos was briefly ahead 38-39, but at that moment Dunston was elbowed by Ante Tomic, had to be benched for five minutes receiving stiches and the ‘reds’ lost concentration and rhythm subsequently with Barca running a 10-0 streak and the quarter ending 55-44.
The ‘reds’ played a very good defense in the first five minutes, but Olympiacos had no solutions in offense. Thus Barcelona succeeded in sending the difference to two digit levels (65-49) at 37’ and it was around that time that everything was decided.
The quarters: 18-13, 33-27, 55-44, 70-58.
Barcelona (Pasqual): Pullen 8 (2), Dorsey, Sada, Huertas 7, Abrines 3, Navvarro 7 (1), Todorovic, Papanikolaou 3 (1), Oleson 15 (4), Lorbek 13 (2), Nachbar, Τomic 14.
Οlympiacos (Bartzokas): Petway 17 (3), Shermadini 4, Dunston 18, Perperoglou, Sloukas 2, Collins 2, Simmons, Mantzaris 4, Katsivelis 2, Lojeski 7 (1).
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “We tried for 40 minutes, played hard in defense, moved the ball well, created proper situations to shoot, but lacked necessary confidence to win is such a home court. Actually Barcelona won the game thanks to its bench depth. We have had major absences, of the likes of Spanoulis and Printezis. I believe the game was decided by the energy Barcelona had at the end and during the whole game as a matter of fact and we weren’t able to follow through. We are now ahead of four more games for the TOP-16, we need to win all to fight for qualification to the play-offs. Congratulations to Barcelona and all the best”.
Asked on when Spanoulis and Printezis are to return, the 48 year old coach replied that «the medical team says that both of them are probably going to be with us for the next game”.
On Navvarro’ award ceremony, Giorgos Bartzokas said that «Navvarro is well respected player throughout Europe for everything he has accomplished on a personal and team level. Duration is what makes his special at this level, tonight’s award is another minor title for him. We all congratulate him».
On whether Barclona is the team most in shape at this moment in the Euroleague, the Olympiacos coach said that «according to results yes, they have their entire roster healthy and this is really important at such a critical time in the season. They did not have Oleson and Lorbek in the beginning, but they are all together by now. Barcelona is in great shape at the moment, but there are a lot of things playing a role in the Euroleague. It’s important how they are going to be in the Final Four, since having the home court advantage in the play-offs it will be very hard for them to lose in their home court, it will all come down as to how they are going to be in the Final Four”