Day 18 Euroleague: Olimpia Milano - Galatasaray

* Tonight's game matched up Euroleague's two worst teams. No wonder that the atmosphere and the pace in the beginning of the game reminded more an old folks home rather than a basketball game.

* Both teams were built wrong. Both lack a top level PG who can push the team forwards. In Milan, there is Dragic in the opening PG position. Well, i am not sure if the italian team they really believed in summer Dragic can be the guy who makes the magic. He looks more like someone pretending to be a basketball player. Galatasaray does not have it any easier. I love Güler, but he cannot be left alone as the only PG in his team (sorry Fitipaldo, whoever you are). Actually, Galas best minutes at the end of the game were when Schilb played as a point-forward. Yes, they were so desperate.

* Four minutes into the game, Gala was leading 10-3. Repesa was not even calling a time out. It seemed Milano is heading for another game where none of it´s players cares about the game. The change came when Repesa sent his second team on the court. It was the local, italian role players who brought enthusiasm to the game, showed full court pressure, stole balls and turned the game upside down. There is no use to talk about tactics in a game like that. Both teams played rather unsystematic. Against pathetic Galatasaray, motivation and determination were enough to make a 16 points lead.

* How horrible was the level of the game in the first quarter? in the first 5 minutes there was just one assist being passed, in compare to two airballs.

* Galatasaray´s defence in the paint is softer than a *insert a cliché here*. Daye, Pleiss and Tyus are not the kind of players who like physical contact. Raduljica, who according to rumours is on his way out from Milan, had 13 points and 4 offensive rebounds. Milan had 15 of those, 9 more than Gala.

* Despite being responsible for finishing the first half with 10 points ahead, Milan´s local role players started the second half on the bench. The game was dragged again to an old folks home pace. When Gala showed interest in the game (and let Schilb command the offence), the enthusiasm of Milan´s role players could not help anymore. At the end of the game, it was Milan´s more talnted five (in other words, opening five minus Dragic) who won the game.

* So the italians won finally, after 10 straight defeats. What made Milan´s season so pathetic? The answer goes further beyond a certain gameplay or defensive tactic. First, Milan did unprofessional job building a team. While teams like Baskonia keep recruiting players before their big breakthrough, hungry players, Milan is doing the opposite. They are taking players after their peak, players who failed in other clubs, hoping for - well, i don´t know what they were thinking. Secondly, there is nothing who can turn that bunch of players to a team. No top level inspiring coach, no obvious leader. And last, even good players like McLean are submitted to the bad atmosphere in the club and becoming mediocre. And by the way, Galatsaray is suffering from the same symptoms.

#Euroleague #OlimpiaMilano #Galatasaray