Just like in the quarterfinals, Olimpia returns home after the first two games played on the road tied up at 1-1. Unlike what it had done in the three previous series in which it didn’t have home court advantage, this time Olimpia went down in the first game before re-emerging in the second one. Overall, in Bologna, Olimpia played the games it wanted to play defensively. It held Virtus under 70 points twice, even improving on what it had done in Trento, and then in the second game it played at an offensive level consistent with the standards of this season. In the Italian league, Olimpia has won 86.3 percent of the games when scoring at least 85 points. It managed to do so three times in the playoffs and always prevailed. In Bologna, it scored ten three-pointers, especially in crucial moments, such as the first significant run in the opening quarter, and then when it had to respond to Virtus’ assaults. The other key was the rebounds: in Game 1, Virtus had won the battle taking advantage of Josh Nebo’s absence; in Game 2, Olimpia produced a real collective effort to make up for it. Shavon Shields and Armoni Brooks were huge in this. Another positive fact is the team’s ability to overcome its foul problems, especially among the big men. Coach Messina was forced to change the rotation, to go small, to limit Nikola Mirotic to just 19 minutes on the court, but he received important answers from the second unit. Ousmane Diop played a full of energy game against Momo Diouf, who’s been very consistent at a high level in these playoffs (12.0 points on average with 9 for 14 from the field). Olimpia is coming back to Milan, counting on home court advantage, which in the playoffs has often had a great impact in the past, especially because the game will be played in a sold-out Unipol Forum.

The Keys

• Defense: In the four playoff games played on the road, Olimpia has never allowed more than 70 points in a single game. Maintaining this defensive impact at home is essential, considering that when it scores at least 85 points Olimpia is 19-3 in Italian league games.
• Rebounds: Olimpia lost the battle in Game 1, but turned the tables in Game 2, reducing Bologna’s offensive rebounds from 15 to 6. Shields and Brooks combined to get 13.
• Three-point shooting: Olimpia produced 30 points on three-pointers against six by the opponents in Game 2.
• Fouls: Olimpia had trouble managing the foul situation, 44 against 32 overall in the first two games. This made the help of the second unit crucial. In Game 2, they responded.

The Schedule

Game 1	Saturday 31 May	H19:00	68-67
Game 2	Monday 2 June	H 20:45	66-85
Game 3	Thursday 5 June	H 20:45	Milano
Game 4	Saturday 7 June	H 20:45	Milano
Game 5*	Monday 9 June	TBD	Bologna

COACH ETTORE MESSINA – “We moved the ball better in Game 2, going from side to side two or three times in the same possession and this gave us the opportunity to get more open looks. But the percentages can vary, what must never be missing in such a tough series is defensive intensity. Obviously, matching the rebounding battle, because of the support the perimeter players gave us, was crucial.”

ARMONI BROOKS – “We have to play game by game in a very competitive series, not looking too far ahead and executing our game plan, while matching the intensity they will have. My defensive strides are part of my growth as a player and something I’m very proud of.”

Game 2 Story

1°Q	Olimpia took the lead aftre getting into some rhythm offensively on a sequence generated by Nico Mannion, Nikola Mirotic and finally Zach LeDay and closed the quarter 27-20.
2°Q	Diop and Brooks opened up to 16 points of margin, before losing some kind of pace control and letting Bologna coming back. The score at the half was 44-35
3°Q	Because of foul trouble, with the bigs, Brooks and Mannion, Olimpia had to deal with Bologna’s rally. They came back withing six. 66-58 at the end of the period.
4°Q	Olimpia kept the defensive pressure and efficiency high, holding Bologna to 8 fourth-quarter points and never letting Virtus close. 85-66 was the final score.

GAME NOTES – Olimpia is 22-9 in the all-time semifinal series with a 68-43 single-game record after Game 2. Ettore Messina is 101-47 in playoff games, 46-12 in the quarterfinals (16-1 in terms of series won-lost). In the semifinals he has a 30-22 single-game record (13-1 since he has been with Olimpia), 8-7 in series. The Olimpia Milano Coach is first all-time for games coached in the playoffs (148) and games won (101). Shavon Shields is now the fifth all-time leading scorer for Olimpia in the playoffs with 721 points scored: Bob McAdoo is right in front of him with 732 points. He is also second all-time for three-pointers made with 81. The record holder is Mike D’Antoni with 105. Finally, Shields had started the playoffs as the 15th best-scorer in history with 1,009 points scored. Now, he has 1,096 and is 11th all-time after overtaking Mike D’Antoni’s 1,080. Renato Villallta is next with 1.134