Lost at the buzzer...
Olympiacos lost to Fenerbahce 72-73 at the SEF, for the 7th round of the Euroleague.
Poor perimeter percentages and rebounds lost allowed Fenerbahce to impose the tempo and take a ^p. lead (10-16 at 7’). Up to 8’, Nikola Milutinov had already two fouls, which forced david Blatt to readjust his plans… With Giorgos Bogris as a center, and LeDay at the ‘4’, the team put more pressure in the defense, found solutions when attacking and got to lead 24-23 at 12’. After the return of the Serbian center on the floor and Axel Toupane entering the game, Olympiacos run a partial 11-4 and got to lead by +8 935-27, at 16’). However, the guests were fast with their response… They ‘struck’ from the perimeter, taking advantage of the offensive melt down of the ‘reds’ who remained scoreless for more than three minutes and with a 10-0 run turned the game around (35-39 at 19’). Finally, with a bucket by Nigel Williams – Goss and 2/2 free throws by Giorgos Printezis, our team tied the game 39-39 at the end of the first half.
In the second half, the team began with a lot of energy, put pressure in the defense and with Kostas Papanikolaou heading the offense the lead for the ‘reds’ was at +6 (51-45 at 28’). Fenerbahce however, was not willing to give up the fight… They took advantage of their perimeter percentages and the bad choices the ‘reds’ were making when attacking and went ahead 55-58 at 33’. From that point on, the game became a first class derby with Nikola Milutinov giving Olympiacos the lead with a majestic dunk (69-67), with 1:40’’ to the end. At this point however, the offensive choices of our team were tragic and six back to back points by Kostas Sloukas (3/3 free throws and a triple) gave a Fener a four point margin (69-73, at 39’). Papanikolaou scored a three of his own and made the score 72-73 37’’ before the end, Kalinic missed on a three point shot thanks to the ‘reds’ good defense, but the terrible choice for a shot by Williams – Goss at the buzzer, deprived Olympiacos the chance to win the game.
The quarters: 18-21, 39-39, 53-50, 72-73.
The quarters: 18-21, 39-39, 53-50, 72-73.
Οlympiacos (Blatt): Williams-Goss 13 (5 as), Τoupane 6(2), Spanoulis 8 (5 as.), Τimma, Μilutinov 6 , Strelnieks 2 , Printezis 10 (10 reb.), Papanikolaou 18 (2), Μantzaris 2, Bogris 4, Leday 3(1).
Fenerbahce (Obradovic): Melli 8(2), Mahmutoglu 12(4), Kalinic 16(1), Sloukas 20 (1), Guduric, Guler, Muhammed 2, Duverioglu 2, Datome 7 (1), Lauvergne 6
"We need to stick together"
David Blatt pointed out: “First of all, I would like to thank our fans for coming here to support us. It was a very tough and high level game, between two very good teams. Sometimes, games are judged be a couple of plays and unfortunately for use, they made one more. That was the difference in the game. Small things make the difference and tonight these were too few, but it was these small things that made the difference. The season is very long and we need to stay together as a team. Improve these small things and win games like this one. I believe we are going to do it”.
Asked about not using Vassilis Spanoulis in the last minutes of the game, he made clear: “It was my decision. The match ups were such that I had to go with what I thought were the best match ups especially defense wise so as to give us the chance to win the game. That’s all”. On the inability Olympiacos showed into maintaining the difference, when the ‘reds’ had gotten a significant lead, he commented: “That’s obviously a problem. We need to be doing a better job at that’.
David Blatt pointed out: “First of all, I would like to thank our fans for coming here to support us. It was a very tough and high level game, between two very good teams. Sometimes, games are judged be a couple of plays and unfortunately for use, they made one more. That was the difference in the game. Small things make the difference and tonight these were too few, but it was these small things that made the difference. The season is very long and we need to stay together as a team. Improve these small things and win games like this one. I believe we are going to do it”.
Asked about not using Vassilis Spanoulis in the last minutes of the game, he made clear: “It was my decision. The match ups were such that I had to go with what I thought were the best match ups especially defense wise so as to give us the chance to win the game. That’s all”. On the inability Olympiacos showed into maintaining the difference, when the ‘reds’ had gotten a significant lead, he commented: “That’s obviously a problem. We need to be doing a better job at that’.
On behalf of Fenerbahce, Zeljko Obradovic commented: “There aren’t many things to say the way the game went… Williams-Goss missed his shot at the buzzer, which means that Olympiacos could have won. I think that we reached that critical point, when during the last minute, Olympiacos was scoring threes at the end of the clock on their offense, one with Goss and one with that incredible shot by Papanikolaou. But this is the beauty of the sport. We did not play that good offense in our last possession. Kalinic made a good shot, however, he missed and Olympiacos had their chance in the last offense. It was a very hard and closed game. That’s an important victory for us, but we are still only on the 7th round of the Euroleague. We have many games ahead and we need and have to try and play better”.