Day 13 Euroleague

Olimpia Milano - Panathinaikos

* Panathinaikos' offence game is based heavily on a pick'n'roll of Calathes with the centers. It allows the greek PG to gain points (16, 12 of them in the first quarter) and assists (6), but sometimes it looks like PAO is playing 2 on 2. Singelton and Calathes are trying to make a basket, the other three teammates are passively looking. It is not very aesthetic nor very sophisticated, but it made the work against poor Milan. No wonder PAO's best minutes were when Calathes was not executing the offence himself, but passing to his teammates.

* Milan were attempting to run every time they had a chance. Not without a reason - in the half court offence the italian offence was embarassing. Milan's most efficient way to gain points was in the transition.

* At the of the first quarter Milan was still leading 21 to 16. Two minutes in to the third quarter, Panathinaikos was ahead with 47-29. In 12 minutes PAO ran 33-8. What happened there? Simple. Panathinaikos stopped the italian transit offence, and forced them to a slow offence pace. Milan's shot selection (if one can refer to their shots tonight as selective - 4/19 from byond the arch), was horrible and egoistic. That was the beginning of the garbage time. The sad thing about it was that Milan actually made some nice baskets - including several dunks - when they passed the ball around. They just didn't want it.

* In summer Milan had a tough struggle with Gentile - the young italian wanted to leave Milan and go to Houston, Milan fans and president got upset, and the season started with some heavy atmosphere. Gentile was not happy, Milan was not happy, and the whole situation casted a shadow on the atmosphere in the team. Now Gentile is no more there, but Milan still doesn't show any positive attitude. The players seem to be apathic (and having too many one on one plays - just 6 team assists in the first half!), as if they don't care if they win or lose the game (Beside Cerella, who is not a key player anyway). The Euroleague's hymne is talking about devotion - there was no devotion in Milan's players tonight.

#Euroleague #OlimpiaMilano #Panathinaikos