Monaco will play against Fenerbahce Lat first end of its history in the Euroleague After surprising in Abu Dabi and eliminate the champion of the regular phase, the Olympiacos, who offered the worst possible version overshadowed for the good defense of the rival and the low contribution of its star, The Bulgarian International Sasha Tiencoenkov.
OLY
68
78
MON
Alignments
| (17+15+19+17): Williams-Goss (12), Fournier (31), Papanikolau (2), Vezenkov (7), Fall (2) -Itical team-, McKissic (-), Milutinov (8), Walkup (2), Peters (3), Vildaza (-), Lee (1). |
| (17+18+22+21): strazel (2), james (17), blossomgame (12), diallo (22), theis (5) -Cinco inicial-, loyd (-), calthes (2), jaiteh (11), jaiteh (11), okobo (7). |
The two sets in charge of leaving four without Spaniards for the first time in twenty -one, the Greeks after eliminating Real Madrid and the Monegascos when doing the same with Barça, faced the appointment in different circumstances: With the favorite poster the first, eager to win the most precious trophy in the year of his centenary, and with nothing to lose the second.
And that pressure difference was noticed throughout the entire evening, because Olympiacos was less fluid than usual before the sticky defense of a very physical monaco, that he knew that his options to give the surprise passed largely because of what he could do when avoiding fitting points.
Controlled that aspect, his other need was to make his great star shine, Mike James. And he got it, because the American did not shy away from his responsibility and threw himself into the team behind the break, entering the locker room with 13 points to their credit and 23 valuation digits.
His great individual performance In that section he contrasted with that of the rival's referent, Tiencoenkov. Uncomfortable from beginning to end, at no time found the good feelings. This circumstance forced other colleagues to counteract their little contribution. Nigel Williams-Goss with his tireless work, the imbalancing Evan Fournier and the always compliment Nikola Milutinov were the ones who kept their own afloat until the Ecuador of the duel (32-35, m.20).
Despite equality at that point, The feeling was that Olympiacos lacked the confidence that Monaco left over. And that became evident in the return to the parquet, when after an initial exchange of blows those of Vassilis Spanoulis signed a 4-15 partial that drove them towards an unexpected context before starting the appointment (42-55, m.28).
A very delicate moment for the champions of the regular phase that required a leader. And orphans from time tokov, The 'hot potato' touched Evan Fournier. Nine of the following eleven points of the team brought their signature, undoing the efficient defensive network of the opponent and gradually diluting its favorable income until it is left in a 'affordable' distance at half an hour (51-57, m.30).
Lower arms
The relief lasted little, what Mam Jaiteh took to break into the last quarter with five points without a response just before retiring a few minutes after a blow to the wrist After shock with time many, who was expected with open arms but that he was still not in the day he needed the most.
His frustration rictus, with the lost look, It was the best reflection of the mood of the red collective, which could not stabilize its disadvantage below the psychological barrier of the ten points and granted simple baskets that gave wings to an increasingly grown upright side (58-70, m.36).
Only Fournier seemed to be involved in the game, and although his talent is often sufficient to dechesquile the balance collective depression was already evident. Without spirit or resources, the Olympiacos, a victim of the curse that says that the regular phase leader never proclaims champion with the current format, ended up. The duel for the title that everyone expected Between those of Giorgios Bartzokas and the Panathinaikos it will finally be seen, but in the fight for the third and fourth place.
