'Thrylos' is absolutely ready
Olympiacos bested Nizhny Novgorod 77-70, completed the Euroleague TOP-16 with a 10-4 record and is more than ready for the play-offs.
'Thrylos' defense was not good at all at the beginning of the game. The players of Giannis Sfairopoulos received 15 points during the first five minutes and only three from that point on with the first quarter ending 25-18 for the 'reds'.
Lojeski and Lafayette were in a great mood to play, Mantzaris as well and hence the Piraeus team, after improving their defense even more, did not find it difficult at all to lead 40-30 at the end of the first half.
However, Olympiacos was not shooting well in the third quarter and lack of concentration in certain times in defense allowed the Russian team to tie the game 56-56 with a partial 16-26 run.
In the last quarter, nevertheless, 'Thrylos' was completely dominant on both ends of the floor. Printezis and Mantzaris played a great game and together with Lojeski and Lafayette led Olympiacos to the 77-70 victory.
The quarters: 25-18, 40-30, 56-56, 77-70
Οlympiacos (Sfairopoulos): Petway 3 (1), Dunston 10 (3reb), Papapetrou 4, Sloukas 2, Printezis 12 (2 3p, 7reb), Αgravanis 4 (2reb), Mantzaris 7 (1 3p., 6as), Kavvadas 2 (4reb), Κatsivelis, Lafayette 10 (2 3p, 4reb), Darden 6 (3 reb, 1as, 2st, 2bl), Lojeski 17 (2 3p, 8reb, 2as).
Nizhny (Bagatskis): Baburin 4, Victorov 1, Mekel 5, Parakhouski 14, Ilvev 2, Antonov 4, Khvostov 2, Savelyev, Kuksiks 17 (3 3p), Krivosheev 5, Thompkins 16.
GIANNIS SFAIROPOULOS: "It's important that we finished the TOP-16 tournament with a victory, in a game of no ranking importance. It was hard to find motivation. We wanted to approach the game as a preparation one for those about to come. At some points in the game we were functioning well in both defense and offense. We tried to open the game on the court. We had kept a clear lead in the first half, despite our free shoots not finding target. Our defense was relaxed in the third quarter when we received 26 points. A number that doesn't make us happy. However, I think that the second and fourth quarter, when we received 14 points, were good ones. In general, it was a game that we wanted to win with a good performance. It's important that we won and we are getting ready for the play-offs".
ΑIANAR BAGATSKIS: "Our plan had been to play with calm and patience. Not to try crazy shots. But this did not work well throughout the game. We got the lead in the second quarter, but at the end Olympiacos was a little bit luckier. The threes by Mantzaris, Lafayette and Printezis decided the result of the game. We are focusing on the VTB League from now on. If Khimki wins the Eurocup, then we have a chance at being here again next season".
BRYANT DUNSTON: "The most important thing for us right now is to be tougher in defense and rebound better. Both Real and Barcelona have good rebounders and we have to be worhty. But, as I have said before, the most important thing is defense. We should be continuing with the hard work next week. We need to work hard and become better".
GIORGOS PRINTEZIS: "Despite this being an indifferent game, we tried and won. I think we weren't focused for the most part, but we played good defense at the end, controlled the rebounds and got the victory. It was a test and it's over. I think that we played a good TOP-16 tournament, acquiring many victories. We are happy to have played and we had a lot of fans at the gym tonight as well. It's early, we can even make the Epitaph, we're fine (i.e. the game was played on Good Friday for the Orthodox). We did not succeed in getting home court advantage, despite many and important victories. No matter who our opponent is going to be, either it is Real or Barcelona, we have a great chance. And if we remain healthy, we can contest our qualification to the Madrid Final 4".