Konstantinos Melayes’s comments on Olympiakos’ first friendly, refer to the two centers, the need to add to the region, and “marks” a date for when the team will… roll.
- Constant movement in attack
- He needs a scorer to achieve his goals
- Does it work with two centers?
- The most difficult preparation in recent years
After a month of preparation and just one week before the start of the official season, Olympiacos played its first regular friendly. The above sentence is enough to highlight how problematic and difficult this year’s preparation was, however, I will analyze it below.
Personally, I think that in the month of September, the slightest safe conclusion cannot be reached, not only for Olympiakos and Panathinaikos but for any team in Europe. But on the other hand, as I mentioned above, the season is starting and it is impossible not to focus on certain things. Certainly after just one match, it is not possible to judge any player on an individual level, so I will move to more general conclusions.
However, for a team that has not had a training session with all its players, it had a fine image. He also handed out 22 assists .
Constant movement in attack
Olympiacos lost two valuable players in the past period (Vezenkov, Slukas). Their quality and class did not make up for it, but the new faces of the roster have a common feature with their predecessors. They move without the ball. Watching the match against Zalgiris I saw last year’s Principle of the quick movement of the ball at exactly the same level. The constant movement away from the ball. To prefer passing instead of dribbling, etc. Sikma supported this and all of us who follow basketball knew it, but a small doubt about whether he could do it at the highest level (and not with Alba), I think it has been resolved now.
Gosh also although I found him more hesitant in execution, he has the same ability. He likes not to stand still, not to pass the ball and wait in a corner. In fact, this year’s Olympiacos will also be based on two of Bartzoka’s most basic Principles. Constant movement in attack and pressing defense. And he has the players to back them up.
He needs a scorer to achieve his goals
Giorgos Bartzokas stated 15 days ago that Olympiacos will acquire a player. That player will hardly be the Terence Davis whose case has been removed. It will also be difficult for Kendrick Nunn (I prefer him anyway). Both insist on waiting for the NBA as long as necessary. The end of August became the end of September and the end of September is about to become the end of October.
The “red and white” scored 75 points with 22 assists. Great number, but I think the personal basket problem is evident. There is no player who will take the ball and create a phase for himself with the exception of Kanaan. Gosh will play ‘iso’ but pass 9/10 times.
In order for Olympiacos to claim its goals, it definitely needs a player on the perimeter, someone who can produce 20-23 points (execution and creation).
Who will he be? I do not know. Great conversation which I might do in the next comment. I will simply mention two thoughts without analysis. First, Olympiacos was trapped due to the limited market and lost a lot of time. Second, the NBA doesn’t… watch the Euroleague. The player who finds himself juggling between Europe and unemployment will prefer unemployment. A strange example is Nan, Davis, and Mihailiuk who left a proposal with a guaranteed 2,500,000 and how many other comforts from Panathinaikos to sign with the Celtics with 200,000 and 3-4 stars in the contract in case the million is reached in 4-5 months.
Does it work with two centers?
Giorgos Bartzokas is a coach who does not like big rosters. He wants to have 12 players and two assistants. It’s totally worked out for him. He wants everyone to play and be happy. This year he will march with two “fives”. Correct. This year he will travel with two amazing “fives” which together cost around 2,700,000 euros a year. That’s why they get paid handsomely to play.
Fal will be the main player and Milutinov will come from the bench. This is the initial thought. The season is long, and both their bodies too. The recovery time required for a minor injury is longer than if it were a peripheral one.
In no case do you build a roster thinking “What will happen if a player hits” but it is a condition. I hope Fal and Milutinov play in all 34 matches of the regular season.
Giorgos Tanoulis is not considered for the Euroleague because he is not yet at its level. In the friendly with Zalgiris, Sikma famously responded as “5”. And pick n roll played, and running back, and defense tried to play. Against Biroutis and Hayes though. In my eyes, Sikma doesn’t… touch the “5” except necessarily and for a limited number of possessions. I hope I’m wrong.
I think that Bartzokas would like a “five-four” with athletic characteristics, but he has ruled it out because there is no way he can travel with 9 foreigners. From December he will think about it again after he has acquired a better picture of his team and his opponents.
The most difficult preparation in recent years
This summer was difficult for Olympiakos. It was the team with the most internationals, but it also faced many other issues. Goss picked up two injuries early on. McKissick decided to have diaphragmatic surgery on the second day of preseason, letting the summer pass. Fal has a wisdom tooth out and has some fluid on his knee. Peters tapped his shoulder.
Nothing serious, but enough to keep the trainers from working as they intended. Another player was very fit, another less fit, another completely unfit, another tired of Mundobasket, and another with minor annoyances. Impossible to work.
The season is starting, but I think we will see the regular Olympiakos from mid-November onwards. The point is until then he’s got the wins he needs.
