By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With five games left on the schedule of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, Partizan Mozzart Bet prepares to welcome Olympiacos in Stark Arena this Friday.
“Olympiacos deserves to lead. They play outstanding basketball, and as a team and don’t depend on one single player,” head coach Zeljko Obradovic told Partizan TV describing the next opponent enjoying the view from the top of the EuroLeague standings, “The flow in offense is fantastic, because the team is patient, often finishing in the last five seconds with a designed play and open shot. In defense, they try many switches, even Moustapha Fall who is dominant at 218 cm switches.”
“Those are the most important aspects when preparing for a game against Olympiacos,” he pointed out on the team coached by Greek tactician Giorgos Bartzokas, “We must be ready for their defense. That is where they gain the main advantage and confuse opponents to move into transition. They have many players capable of playing at that rhythm, to run and score easy points. And on 5-on-5, moving the ball secures an open and good shot.”
Following this week’s challenge presented by the Reds, Partizan will host ACB powerhouses FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the upcoming double-game week. Wrapping up the double-legged round-robin schedule, the Belgrade outfit will visit AS Monaco on 7 April and play host to his former team Panathinaikos on 14 April.
“We will face teams that are in a higher position on the standings. Olympiacos, Barcelona, Real and Monaco, and Panathinaikos, a big club. I don’t think Panathinaikos will be any easier,” Obradovic summed up the remaining games.
Partizan currently holds a 16-13 record and is tied for sixth with a one-game cushion inside the Playoffs zone.
Balsa Koprivica has been sidelined since being diagnosed with mononucleosis in early January, but all remaining players are expected to be available to play versus Olympiacos.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net