By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
BERLIN– Olympiacos Piraeus came to the 2024 EuroLeague Final Four as one of the most elite defensive teams in the competition. A squad that could suffocate and suck all life out of opposing squads, a hard-nosed group of players, skillful in dismantling the other team’s offense and putting them out of their comfort zone.
Yet Olympiacos‘ famed, acclaimed defense was simply a no-show in the semifinal against Real Madrid, especially in the first half. The reigning champions were firing on all cylinders to build a 54 – 29 lead a bit before halftime en route to victory.
Olympiacos wing Shaq McKissic believes his team wasn’t tough or mentally there.
“We were just soft man,” McKissic told Eurohoops. The American player finished with 17 points, being one of the few standouts of Olympiacos, together with Alec Peters and Nigel Williams-Goss. “I don’t know if guys were nervous or scared. You got to take it two people. You can’t just let them come out and do whatever they want.”
Real Madrid players went hot early and there was a moment in the first half when they had 9 – 13 3-pointers. Mario Hezonja lit the fuse with a 3-3 entrance from down and then his teammates followed to widen the gap.
“They were all over us and they made some tough shots,” McKissic said. “I don’t think it was one of our best games defensively but it is what it is.”
Olympiacos came back from the locker room a completely different team to rally for a comeback effort. The Reds cut the margin to 77 – 69 halfway through the fourth period but couldn’t get close than that.
McKissic believes that there were also some discrepancies in the officiating down the stretch that he couldn’t explain.
“You wish you could have some possessions back,” McKissic said. “I think there were a few calls that could’ve gone our way that didn’t. I don’t know why. I don’t understand why. I feel like the game was slightly called different.”
After acknowledging that Olympiacos was able to implement their signature physical type of play, McKissic credited Real for knowing how to get to the right place at the right time to get what a call when it matters.
“They let us play through a lot of contact,” McKissic added. “But this Real Madrid team has the best positioning in the world. They can read everything and they know where you’re gonna be so I guess that’s why they get all the calls.”