Lost in Belgrade, will fight for 1st place at Piraues
Olympiacos lost in Belgrade to Crvena Zvezda 87-79 and will now give it all in the game for the last round of Euroleague’s regular season against Baskonia (13/03, 20.00 CET) at the SEF to get the win that will clinch no. 1seed.
With good defense, excellent ball movement and superb percentages from the three point line (up to that point our team had 6/8), the ‘red & whites’ set the tempo and built an 11 point lead (17-28 at 8’). The hosts put pressure in defense and ‘replied’ with a partial 9-2 (26-30 at 10’) and they didn’t stop there…
Our team appeared to be off balance in the second quarter. Terrible ball movement, bad decisions and turnovers allowed Crvena Zvezda to take the lead (43-39 at 18’). However, the return of Moustapha Fall and Thomas Walkup on the floor was crucial in Olympiacos regaining the lead closing the first half in the lead (45-47).
The pressing defense the Belgrade team was playing caused for major offensive problems for Olympiacos, that scored only 12 points in the 3rd quarter. Through their defense, Zvezda got to impose the rhythm (79-65 at 30’) and despite the offensive ‘awakening’ of the ‘red & whites’ in the 4th quarter, they succeeded thanks to their long range percentages to consistently maintain control (83-74 at 37’) and win the game 87-79.
The quarters: 26-30, 45-47, 65-59, 87-79.
CRVENA ZVEZDA
OLYMPIACOS
