Euroleague, Barcelona wins sixth in a row: Ettore Messina explains Olimpia Milano’s turnaround
Olimpia Milan beats Barcelona: sixth win in a row in Euroleague
The defeat in the championship in the big match against Virtus Bologna è already behind: Olimpia Milano comes back big in Europe by winning in Barcelona its sixth win in a row in the Euroleague, with the 94-81 final in which weighs, positively, the 36-17 partial in the third period, which launches Ettore Messina’s men in the playoff zone.
"It’ was an important victory against a strong team like Barcelona, on its own court – said Ettore Messina after the victory -. I am happy for the players becauseé they were patient. In the first half their defense with the turnovers made it a little bit complicated for us to circulate the ball and defensively we suffered. In the second half we were much more patient on offense, we built a lot of open shots but above all the defense è went up".
The turning point, for Messina, s found in the little things: "For us è it was another step forward in terms of cohesion, consistency, defense, control of nerves, all the little things that can help us win games – confirmed the red and white coach -. For example, today we allowed only three offensive rebounds to Barcelona in the first half and none in the second. We changed eight players in the summer and finding balance was not è easy. Winning the Super Cup in Bologna on the road against Virtus was an’important indication that we had values".
"Then we also lost a game in which we were winning by 27 points,” he added: nerve controlè fundamental for everyone. If you miss two shots, suffer two counterattacks, especially at home you get anxiety. It’ happened to us, è happened to others, winning at home is becoming difficult. In our case we only had Josh Nebo available for four games. For us è a key player. But we adapted for example by playing important minutes with Zach LeDay and Mirotic together. The 30-5 partial è not only our merit, or their demerit. As I said, sometimes you make mistakes and get nervous and it changes everything on the court".
