Olympiacos lost in Istanbul
Olympiacos lost to Fenerbahce in Istanbul 77-84, for the 16th round of the Euroleague.
The ‘reds’ played without Giorgos Printezis (injury), while during the game, they lost two more front line players. Octavius Ellis suffered a shoulder injury at 26’ and was not able to continue, while Kostas Papanikolaou left the game at 37’ with a shoulder blade problem.
Relying on good perimeter percentages (7/11 threes in the first quarter), Olympiacos imposed the rhythm and was leading 22-29 at 11’. However, the hosts were quick with their counter attack… They took advantage of the turnovers (9 in the first half) and the gaps in the ‘reds’ defense, struck in the paint with Jan Vesely and turned the game around (45-39 at 19’). Following an excellent cooperation between Sloukas and Ellis, that resulted in an impressive dunk by the American center, Olympiacos closed in 45-39, which was the score that marked the end of the first half.
Fenerbahce, nevertheless, continued dominating the post and maintained complete control of the game (66-54, 30’) up until 34’ (73-61). With pressing defense, double team on Vesely and Sasha Vezenkov firing at will from the 6.75m. arc, Olympiacos came a breath away from turning the game (75-74, 1:59’’ to the end). However, they got to pay for bad offensive choices and the five back to back points received by Pierre and left Istanbul defeated.
The quarters: 22-27, 45-41, 66-54, 84-77.
«Our effort was not sufficient»
out: “It’s obvious that our effort has not been sufficient as to win us the game. We have had a good first quarter offense wise and a good defensive one, which was the last one in the game. We needed more on both ends of the floor to win the game. We have to stay true to our principles, which we weren’t able to do tonight and gave Fenerbahce, a team with very talented players, the opportunity to feel comfortable on the floor. We managed to have a one possession game at the end, however, we made a foul on De Colo, then McKissic traveled and the game was over. Congrats to Fener for the win. I wish them all the best. Merry Christmas to all”.