The Istanbul classic between two teams that have often crossed paths in the EuroLeague era comes at a complicated juncture for both. Efes were overwhelmed in Kaunas right from the tip-off, trailing by more than thirty points at one point and was able to narrow the margin late in the game when Zalgiris had the game won. On top of it, the head coach, first-year Erdem Can, was fired upon the return to Turkey. Olimpia lasted a little longer in Athens but was never really threatening. The consequence is that a delicate game will take place. Efes is going through a transitional period after the golden years, but the team is worth more than the record says. It had to deal with several injury issues and tried to correct the roster during the season. However, as of now, most of the team is available after the return on the court of Will Clyburn, who represented the heaviest absence to absorb, and of Derek Willis who was replaced for a while by Mike Daum, from Tortona, who didn’t play in Kaunas due to an injury. Olimpia recovered Maodo Lo first and, in Athens, Nikola Mirotic too. But the game against Panathinaikos represented a step backwards compared to the last few games, including the big win over Barcelona. In Athens, Olimpia step on the court with seven wins in the last nine games played across the competitions, so the disappointing game was kind of unexpected. Olimpia left Athens at lunch time and flew to Istanbul. Tip off time will be 18:30, Italian time.
THE REFEREES – Miguel Angel Perez (Spain), Luka Kardum (Slovenia), Alberto Baena (Spain).
COACH ETTORE MESSINA – “Both teams are coming off a disappointing loss in the previous round so I anticipate a very nervous game. The team who will be able to control its nerves better and to play with a more disciplined game will have the better chances to win the game.”
EFES ISTANBUL OUTLOOK – During the first half of the season, Efes paid dearly not only for the many changes made to the team that won the EuroLeague twice or even to last season squad (Vasa Micic and Bryant Dunston left), but also for the injuries that kept out for weeks Will Clyburn, Elijah Bryant, Derek Willis, and Tibor Pleiss. Having traded Ante Zizic during the season, Efes added power forward Mike Daum and center Daniel Oturu to the roster. However, the main players remain the guards Shane Larkin, Darius Thompson, Rodrigue Beaubois, and Elijah Bryant. Larkin is producing yet another standout season of his career with 17.8 points and 5.4 assists per game, as well as shooting 38.5 percent from three in over 33 minutes of playing time; Thompson averages 12.8 points per game and adds 3.3 assists. Bryant, who missed 11 games due to an injury, averaged 10.6 points, 3.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game playing also as a small forward during Clyburn’s absence. The same goes for the Frenchman Beaubois (11.3 points, 40.0 percent from three, 2.5 assists on average). Clyburn, 10 games out, produces 10.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Willis is the classic power forward of relevant physical size with a great shot from the outside (8.4 points and 4.3 rebounds on average, 44.4 percent on threes), skills similar to those of Mike Daum (9.4 points on average, 76.0 percent on twos, 41.3 percent on threes). The centers are Tyrique Jones (8.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 62.5 percent from two), Dan Oturu (10.0 points, 5.2 rebounds of which 2.3 are offensive, 72.0 percent from two) and Tibor Pleiss, who missed 12 games and is averaging 7.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
HISTORY VS. EFES – Olimpia have played against Efes 39 times in the EuroLeague since 2005/06 with a record of 14-25 which includes a 1-3 loss in the 2022 playoffs. There are no lack of weird and amazing moments between the teams. In the 2013/14 season, Milan won 77-73 with a sensational comeback over the last quarter, 26-11, with 22 points from Keith Langford. In the first game of the 2018/19 season, Olimpia won 81-80 with a three basically at the end made by Mike James. Three years ago, Olimpia won the first game, in Istanbul, 72-69 with 18 points by Kevin Punter, after a weird trend. A second period won 26-11 launched Olimpia 15 points ahead, but Efes responded with a 21-6 third period only to succumb again in the closing minutes. Two seasons ago, Olimpia won in Milan 75-71 with 16 points from Malcolm Delaney, then won again in Istanbul 83-77 with a 47-26 impressive second half. In the playoffs, Olimpia won Game 2, 73-66, after losing Melli in Game 1, Delaney and Rodriguez in Game 2, with 21 points scored by Shavon Shields. In the 2013/14 season, one of the games also included Zoran Planinic’s Efes win in Istanbul thanks to a three at the end from 25 meters. The overall record is 26-14 for Efes and includes the 1996 Korac Cup.
NICOLO’ MELLI NOTES – Nicolò Melli climbed the chart of the all-time defensive rebounders in the EuroLeague, surpassing Georgios Printezis and also Felipe Reyes. Melli now boasts 1,095 defensive rebounds, 69 less than Ioannis Bourosis, who was his teammate for two years at Olimpia. Melli is also eighth in total rebounds with 1,458: he has surpassed Georgios Printezis. Melli needs two two-pointers to be the third Olimpia player with 300 two-pointers in the EuroLeague after Kyle Hines and Kaleb Tarczewski.
SHAVON SHIELDS NOTES – Despite interrupting his streak of 11 games with at least two made threes, Shields is still the sixth-best scorer in the competition, third in made threes per game and eleventh in personal rating. Shields is 45 points away from Vlado Micov’s 1,232 points and the second place ever in the Olimpia EuroLeague scoring charts.
KYLE HINES NOTES – Hines made 86 blocks in the EuroLeague with Olimpia. He is two away from the club record held by Kaleb Tarczewski.
