Olimpia Milano, Ettore Messina challenges Maccabi Tel Aviv

The words of Ettore Messina

Olimpia in the third double-round of the season, the first mixed that is with a home game and an away game (Thursday 15 in Belgrade against Red Star), is looking for its first home win and in general to break the negative streak that haunts it in the EuroLeague in a way that’s also quite incredible considering the way last week’s defeat in Athens, the second one occurred after an overtime, came about. Conditioned by the absences of two starters such as Kevin Pangos and Shavon Shields in addition to that of Gigi Datome (and in general by 30 total games of absence counting the top 10 players), Olimpia sought new balances.

Right now, two de facto EuroLeague rookies like Tim Luwawu-Cabarrot and Naz Mitrou-Long, who by the way is the competition’s second highest scorer among rookie guards behind Markus Howard, play a vital role. Paradoxically, the long sector is overloaded with solutions, while the problems are concentrated among the outfielders, where the only one always available has been Devon Hall. Maccabi, a historical opponent whose fates have often crossed with Olimpia’s, is in full fight for the playoffs, fresh off a wide home win over Valencia. Olimpia faced and beat it in Athens, but in preseason. It is a team built on two creative guards like Lorenzo Brown and Wade Baldwin, two veterans who have played on many different EuroLeague teams, although Baldwin himself is listed as absent due to a strain.

“We’re facing an extremely athletic team that makes stoppages, offensive rebounds and the quickness of a Lorenzo Brown-led transition their strengths. At least equalizing their intensity, being disciplined in the cutback and in transition, will be essential conditions to try to win this game,” Ettore Messina said on the eve of the game.