A defeat, but everything remains open…
Olympiacos lost 74-73 at Vitoria against Laboral Kutxa, but everything remains open in regard to the home court advantage for the Euroleague play-offs.
Olympiacos began the game in Vitoria very well and was leading 2-8 at the beginning of the game. The home team balanced the game later, but Printezis, Lojeski and Mantzaris were assisting in offense so that the team under Giannis Sfairopoulos to lead 19-23 at the end of the first quarter.
The defense of the Piraeus team was even better in the second quarter. Olympiacos led twice with a +6 score while a bucket by Oliver Lafayette made the score 23-30 at 14', the largest difference for Olympiacos up to that moment. Laboral Kutxa returned to the game following a quick 6-0 run for the 29-30 and half time ended 36-38 for our team.
Olympiacos improved its defense even more in the third quarter. During the first seven minutes the 'reds' kept Laboral at scoring just 8 points and was hence leading 44-48. Sloukas and Lafayette were great organizers, Printezis and Hunter were scoring and Olympiacos was maintaining the lead before Laboral Kutxa tied the game 52-52 at 29' and the third quarter ending 53-55.
'Thrylos' was leading 53-58 at 33' but then a 6-0 streak by the Basques gave them a 59-58 lead. Giannis Sfairopoulos' team, following a time out by the Greek coach at that point, answered the Basques with a 0-7 run to make 63-66 at 36'.
The Basques with some 'crazy' shots from eight minutes range or with threes at the fast break got a 74-71 lead at 39'. Thrylos came back to the game with a dunk by Hunter making a one point game (74-73), but then Printezis missed both his free throws and Lafayette missed at a three in the last play resulting to the defeat of our team 74-73.
The quarters: 19-23, 36-38, 53-55, 74-73.
Laboral Kutxa (Navarro): Adams, James 17 (1), Iverson 5, Causeur 13 (1), Senghelia 5 (1), Tillie 5, Begic 6, San Emeterio 8 (2), Bertans 15 (3).
Olympiacos (Sfairopoulos): Hunter 14 (3reb), Dunston 4 (1as), Papapetrou 2 (2as), Sloukas 7 (5as), Printezis 15 (1 3p, 7reb, 1as), Agravanis 7 (2 3p), Mantzaris 4, Kavvadas 2, Lafayette 8 (2 3p, 3reb, 3as), Darden 3 (1), Lojeski 7 (1).
GIANNIS SFAIROPOULOS: "It was a close game that was decided by details. We took the game where we wanted; we kept Laboral 9 points below their home average scoring. At the end we had the chance to win the game 3 or 4 times, but we missed free throws, free shoots and thus missed the opportunities and the game. That's basketball, we have had our chances, but we needed something more at the end. Congratulations to Laboral Kutxa".
Asked how much the absences had influenced the team, Giannis Sfairopoulos answered "tonight we fought without 3 or 4 players, but I think we fought well. We are missing important players, but I think we played a good game. The players that are missing are very important to us, but as I always say, the Olympiacos players are used to fight in every home court against any opponent".
Finally, asked which place he believes his team is going to occupy at the end of the TOP-16, the Greek coach is crystal clear. "We don't aim for the seed, but to have done the best we could at the end of the TOP-16. We want to become better at the end of every practice, at every game and see what we have mastered at the end".
DIMITRIS AGRAVANIS: "We obviously miss Spanoulis. We managed to take the game where we wanted, not to receive more than 20 points during each quarter, just like our coach had told us. The game was decided at the last shot, some times you win, and some times you lose. We need to focus at one game at a time, we'll prepare for Efes at first and then we are going to see if we can win all our three games and secure home court advantage".
OTHELLO HUNTER: "Our defense was great. We shouldn't be complaining, taking into account that we did not receive more than 20 points in any given quarter. However, we did not find the right options when attacking. Now, we need to focus on the next day. We need to work at practice and try for three victories in the remaining games to achieve our goal".
MILAN TOMIC: "We controlled the game, where there have been many score fluctuations. We had been playing in a tough home court, where Laboral lost to CSKA in the last minute. We had two free throws and an open three at the end; we missed them, that's basketball. We move on and focus on the following games, so that we can be ready for the play-offs. The important thing is for the team to be ready. Since when the TOP-16 began, after every game, you can see that no team can be sure for the home court advantage. That's why we take it game by game and try to achieve our goal".