That’s what Olympiacos and Costas Sloukas achieve in the win of the year

A classic Olympiacos big European win at SEF, with plenty of heroism, self-denial and a great shot from Costa Slouka, born for such a buzzer. A memorable win against the European champion, but also at the end of the year, because the targeted three by “Mr. 11” may prove to be the winning shot of the regular season.

Olympiacos reached 14 in 23 games and won one of the 11 finals left before the start of the playoffs. The timing is also important, of course the way the win comes, the opponent, the euphoria it inspires in everyone just before the team enters a process of back-to-back games.

After the league game against Lavrio and the duels for the first title of the year (cup final four), a hot month follows with back-to-back games that will essentially be about where the ball will ultimately end up in the regular season, as the scene in the Blick has the playoffs and what to say about the continuation of the Euroleague. With a game played every two days, it will be valuable for Olympiacos to start this March with as many supplies as possible, i.e. wins under their belts.

That’s why the win against the European champions (first of the “red-whites” after 6 defeats in a row in December 2018) is of great importance. As it was with Basconia, so it will be (if it comes) with Armani Milan on February 24 after the cup final in Heraklion. Bartzokas doesn’t want to look that far, he prefers to just concentrate on the next match, but he also knows how great his team’s success was against Larkin and Mitsic.

Olympiacos performance would be no less good if they lost the game (by one shot after the point where it was counted) but as Sloukas said in relation to Sportish with SEF after the game: “I didn’t want that lose pass and I won’t “It would be the same if a loss came.”

She finds rhythm, she approaches December

The “Red-Whites” are trying to get back to the rhythms they had in December. Not all are ready, but their recent games suggest that as the year progresses they are getting closer to their best month yet.

In Madrid they pinned Real for a half, they actually went to the game with the shot but Wookap failed, they took just 62 points from Basconia (ten less than what the Basques usually put) and against Efes they went to the game .

Olympiacos finds his rhythm through his defense. Against one of the top peripheral lines of the Euroleague, the “Red-Whites” took a lot from the defense despite bad luck with the injury of the best defender (Wookup) on the eve of the defense, even if Bartzokas groaned. probably rightly so, about the way Efes scored in the third period. Mitsics Drive, Pass to Place or to an unmarked and easy basket.

Efes finished with 67%, two points and 23 assists (12 from Mitsic’s hands), which is pretty far from the usual standards of the “red and white” defense. On the other hand, the guests only had 30% in the threesome. Trail shooters like Mitsic (1/7), Boboa (1/4) and Larkin (2/5) definitely have better nights, but the hosts are pushing them as hard as they can on the ball and in every effort to shoot.

He didn’t drink any sea in the end

Olympiakos controlled the tempo throughout the match, was consistent in the rebound battles, found great shots and didn’t drink sea in the end. The final attack of the regular season might not have been in the most ideal conditions, but the reaction after Larkin’s overtime three-pointer was perfect.

• Dorsey isn’t tempted to make a rushed three, going for a shot from mid-range, knowing there’s still time for another attack with the points difference.
• Fal plays an amazing defense for Mitsic, Dorsey helps a lot so the Serb misses the lay-up.
• Sloukas gets the rebound, runs across the field, Dorsey asks for the ball. The pass goes to McKissick, who turns around and sees Sloukas in the corner again. “I also beat him in the dressing room. He made a big move because usually the players go to the basket with 3 ” for the end and the ball in their hands,” said the Greek ace, who took over the rest. An excuse for Moerman, with a glance at the clock and a three from the corner to victory!

Sloukas is a player for shots like that. And here we are talking about if he doesn’t get them, who at 32 has three Euroleague titles and countless big games behind them, who then? He will put it up again in the future. His heart says it, his class says it: “It’s a big win but we have to keep going,” he said, and he was right.

In the absence of Wokap, Sloukas played 38:36 minutes, while Sasha Vezenkov played a minute less and fought tremendously in defense and attack. “Golgotha ​​is waiting for us and we have to open the rotation,” commented Bartzokas, who knows he needs to get more help from his bench. The program with eight players does not come out.

First Wokap should come back, then Martin should increase the tempo and Livio, who watched the whole match from the bench on Thursday (like Eisi), should take his time again. Two foreigners with zero participation time and one with only 1p in his fortune is a luxury. However, we have said that not everyone is ready. If they can and coordinate, the better for the team’s final performance…