Bayern Munich has been the first EuroLeague team to defeat Olimpia, who was coming off five straight wins, is completely involved in the playoffs’ race and beyond it the same two teams faced each other during the last season in a playoff’s epic series. So, there are many reasons to consider it a big clash. Olimpia will have a lot invested in the game. After playing five consecutive road games is coming back home to complete its home schedule over a three-day span. The second game, next Thursday, will be against AS Monaco, another team fully involved in the playoffs’ race. Olimpia clinched a playoff berth a few days ago, but with one more win – and no need to wait for results coming from other arenas – will also clinch home-court advantage. And will have the chance to finish in 3rd place, above last season’s final position, should it pass Olympiacos Piraeus, whose last game will be in Athens against Barcelona, a team who is certain to finish at the top of the standings. Tip-off time is at 20:30, Italian time.
COACH ETTORE MESSINA – “We approach the first of two very complicated games during a crucial week for our future. We’d like to prolong the good vibes coming from the Istanbul game, improving the quality of our play, especially ball movement and hitting the open man. It is important to keep improving. Bayern is a very well-prepared tea, mentally and physically tough, so we expect a hard job.”
NICOLO’ MELLI – “We are approaching this week aware of being where we really wanted to be. We lost some games we should have won during the journey, but we made up for them. We clinched a playoffs’ spot, and this is a goal that we will try to build over. But currently, our focus in entirely on the Bayern game. It is a home game, and we need to win it. These two teams faced each other in the playoffs last season, so it is a special game. We are counting on the enthusiasm generated by our big win in Istanbul.”
SERGIO RODRIGUEZ – “At this time, we need to play one game at a time, never looked too far, starting with this tough game against Bayern. We are at the crucial part of the season; it is important to just play one game at a time and try to win. We are coming back home for a EuroLeague game after a very long time, and the enthusiasm of our crowd will help.”
BAYERN – Bayern have changed a lot since last season when they finished the regular season in fifth place and played a memorable playoff series against Olimpia. The returning players are Vladimir Lucic, an iconic figure of the team, as well as Zan Sisko, Paul Zipser, Leon Radosevic and Nihad Dedovic, the last three so far have been scarcely used for various physical ailments. However, it is an experienced team that has signed several experienced EuroLeague veterans who in fact form the backbone of the team. The point guard is Corey Walden, a former Red Star player, decisive in the Munich game (16 points), who’s averaging 9.8 points per game and is shooting 42.2 percent from three; Darrun Hilliard, who played in Vitoria and Moscow in the EuroLeague, has returned from an injury, but in general he has been great throughout the season at the guard position, averaging 15.5 points per game and converting 42.2 percent of his threes; Lucic at the small forward spot produces 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game; DeShaun Thomas is another EuroLeague veteran (he played in Barcelona, Panathinaikos and Maccabi) and averages 9.5 points per game at the power forward position; Othello Hunter is the fifth offensive rebounder in EuroLeague history, a center who has played for Real Madrid, CSKA and Maccabi, who is averaging 7.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Among the perimeter players, Bayern is counting on Nick Weiler-Babb (5.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game), Ognjen Jaramaz (5.0 points per game), Zan Sisko (3.2 points, 2.3 assists per game) who had been a key player during the last year’s playoffs, plus the German international Michael Obst, a pure shooter. Among the bigs, Augustine Rubit is another veteran who plays two positions and is scoring 10.4 points per game with 4.8 rebounds and is a 91.7 percent free-throw shooter. Paul Zipser has solved his health problems and should be able to return to the court. Leon Radosevic is another experience center capable of helping the rotation.
HISTORY VS BAYERN – Seven of the 12 game played between these two teams date back to last season in which they met in the playoffs in a five-game series that went to the distance. Overall, the record is 8-6 in Olimpia’s favor, 6-1 at home and 2-5 in Munich. Olimpia has won the two games played during the 2014/15 season and lost the two of the 2018/19 season. In 2019/20, Olimpia won the Milan game 79-78, coming back from 13 points behind in the last quarter and 20 down in the second half, with 16 points scored by Vlado Micov. In that game Sergio Rodriguez scored nine points and had 10 assists. The decisive field goal was a dunk made by Kaleb Tarczewski on a Sergio Rodriguez’s alley-oop pass. Last year, Olimpia won after an overtime 81-78 in Munich, the decisive field goal was a three with nine seconds left made by Shavon Shields. Malcolm Delaney had 18 points and eight assists, 16 points with 5-for-5 from the field came from Kyle Hines. In the second leg Olimpia won 75-51. During the playoffs, Olimpia won Game 1, 79-78 in Milan, coming back from 19 down, with a buzzer-beating field goal scored by Zach LeDay (the alley-oop pass was executed by Malcolm Delaney). Olimpia then won Game 2 at home 80-69, lost Game 3 in Munich 85-79 and Game 4 85-82. Finally, in Game 5 after a dominating game, Olimpia underwent a furious final comeback and protected the win only when Kyle Hines blocked Wade Baldwin shot, forcing him into a jump ball that he controlled. Shavon Shields’ 34 points in that game were his career high.
THE BAYERN CONNECTION – Leon Radosevic has played in Milan for two seasons, in 2011/12 and in 2012/13 when he returned to Milan after a short break at Alba Berlin. Malcolm Delaney played for Bayern Munich during the 2013/14 season when he made his EuroLeague debut averaging 13.9 points and 5.1 assists per game. He also won the German title with Bayern. Bayern coach Andrea Trinchieri is from Milan and has coached at Olimpia both at a youth level and as an assistant for the first team. Besides, he has coached Kyle Hines in Veroli and Nicolò Melli in Bamberg during his career. Gigi Datome and Nihad Dedovic were teammates in Rome.
GAME NOTES – Nicolò Melli is the fourth-best defensive rebounder in the EuroLeague with a 4.8 average and is fifth in total rebounds with 6.5. Melli had his second double double in Tel Aviv and the fourth double-digit rebounding game of the season. Kyle Hines is seven points shy of 3,000 for his career. In addition, he is two two-pointers away from the all-time first place that is currently held by Georgios Printezis of Olympiacos, who is also active. Shavon Shields just became the Olimpia 10th scorer ever, surpassing Arturas Gudaitis and his 701 points. Malcolm Delaney is five points away of 600 scored for Olimpia. Kaleb Tarczewski has grabbed more than 600 rebounds for Olimpia in EuroLeague and is four field goals made shy of 300. Sergio Rodriguez is one three away from the all-time Olimpia’s first place for three pointers. Vlado Micov is the current leader with 162, Rodriguez has 161.
