The ‘reds’ unsuccessful in Munich
Olympiacos did not succeed in Munich. The ‘reds’ lost to Bayern 68-74 for the 5th round of the Euroleague.
The game was balanced during the first six minutes (10-10), however, with two back to back threes, the hosts got to lead with +6 for the first time (16-10 at 7’). Turnovers (6 in the first quarter and a total of 10 in the first half), together with a loose defense, allowed the hosts to increase the distance even further (+9, 31-22 at 13’).
Olympiacos attacked back and with Charles Jenkins and Sasha Vezenkov leading the team, ran a partial 10-2 that made the score 33-32. However, the ‘reds’ paid for their subsequent poor choices in the offense and the lost rebounds and went to the locker rooms trailing by 5 (39-34 at 20’).
Our team improved its defensive game in the second half, balanced it (41-41 at 22’), while with 2/2 free throws by Papanikolaou led for the first time at 25’ (49-50). From that point on however, nothing worked right for the ‘reds’ when they were attacking, and they had to watch to Germans building a +11 lead (68-57 at 33’).
Despite that, they did not give up the fight… Charles Jenkins was organizing the game – he offered substantial help on both ends of the floor – and having Shaquielle McKissic and Sasha Vezenkov stepping up, Olympiacos succeeded, despite missed free throws and off target shots to close in at 4p. (72-68). With about 50.7’’ for the game to end, McKissic made a hasty play, shooting from behind the three point arc and hence wasting a crucial offensive play for Olympiacos. Baldwin shot 2/2 free throws with 34’’ on the clock and wrote the final 74-68, since during the ‘red’ offensive plays that followed – renewed by offensive rebounds – Bartzokas’ players were not able to find target from the perimeter.
Ο προπονητής του Ολυμπιακού, Γιώργος Μπαρτζώκας, δήλωσε: «Απόψε έγινε ένα παιχνίδι που προφανώς δεν αξίζαμε να κερδίσουμε. Και δεν μιλάω για τα στατιστικά και τα νούμερα, γιατί και εκεί είναι προφανές πως είχαμε 21% στα τρίποντα και είχαμε περισσότερα λάθη από ότι ασσίστ. Είμαστε ομάδα με καλό σουτ ,αλλά οι βασικοί μας παίκτες είχαν 0/4, 0/4, 0/3 στα τρίποντα. Οπότε είναι προφανές το ότι σκοράραμε 68 πόντους δεν ήταν αρκετό για να κερδίσουμε την αναμέτρηση. Δεν πήραμε καμία από τις διεκδικούμενες , τις 'χαμένες' μπάλες . Το hustle παιχνίδι μας δεν ήταν αρκετό για αυτό. Η Μπάγερν ήταν πιο έτοιμη να παίξει και να παλέψει για κάθε κατοχή. Όταν αρχίζεις να παλεύεις, τότε εκτελείς καλύτερα στην επίθεση. Οπότε για εμένα αυτός ήταν ο βασικός λόγος που χάσαμε το παιχνίδι. Όπως είπα και η πριν η Μπάγερν άξιζε τη νίκη και την συγχαίρω».
The coach of Olympiacos, Giorgos Bartzokas, stated: “Tonight we played a game that we obviously did not deserve to win. I’m not talking about stats and numbers, because everyone can see that we only had 21% in threes and more turnovers than assists. We generally shoot well as a team, but our key players had 0/4, 0/4 and 0/3 from the perimeter. So it’s obvious that having scored 68 points wasn’t enough to win us the game. We did not win one of the challenged, ‘lost’ balls. Our hustle game wasn’t good enough for it. Bayern was more ready to play and fight for every possession. When you fight, then you execute better. So for me, that was the main reason we lost the game. Just like I said before, Bayner deserved to win and I congratulate them”.
The quarters: 22-18, 39-34, 61-53, 74-68.
