By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Hassan Martin has been ruled out for Olympiacos hosting ALBA Berlin on Tuesday. Kostas Papanikolaou is labeled as questionable ahead of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 6 contest.
Martin, 25, missed Sunday’s away overtime win against Iraklis due to knee discomfort. He had 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest previously appearing in every EuroLeague game of the ongoing season. The Reds managed to build up a 3-2 record, including 3-0 at home.
Papanikolaou, 31, was injured early in the Stoiximan Basket League Regular Season Round 4 match at Iraklis. He has avoided a serious issue but still can be protected at the top end of the second two-game week of the EuroLeague season. He averaged 6.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per EuroLeague contest so far.
The remaining players are expected to remain available for the team led by Giorgos Bartzokas. On the opposite end, Israel Gonzalez will not have injured players Ben Lammers and Marcus Eriksson for several more weeks.
“Olympiacos is probably the best defensive team in the EuroLeague right now,” noted the visiting head coach, “They are playing very well in a tough schedule. And Olympiacos is always very strong on its home court. We have to play with confidence, share the ball and make our best effort.”
Bartzokas’ team is set to take on Fenerbahce Beko to complete the double-game week on Thursday. ALBA, currently 2-3, bumps into German rival FC Bayern Munich after returning from Greece.
The Greek side is 3-1 at home against ALBA through EuroLeague history. The lone defeat was during the 2019-20 Regular Season, as Eriksson with 22 points backed by 6/9 triples led the visitors to the 93-86 victory.