By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos might face Olimpia Milano, Friday (5/1), for Round 16 of the EuroLeague regular season without American swingman Hollis Thompson.
“Hollis Thompson is ill. He won’t practice today and we’ll see his condition tomorrow and whether he’ll be in the 12-man squad”, Olympiacos head coach Giannis Sfairopoulos said during the pre-game presser.
Thompson averages 7.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 18.20 minutes per game in EuroLeague.
Sfairopoulos also confirmed that guard Brian Roberts is definitely out against Olimpia Milano, mainly for precautionary reasons after his recent biceps injury.
On a positive note for the Reds, forward Giorgos Printezis, center Nikola Milutinov and guard Vangelis Mantzaris are back and ready to see some action. “They participated in yesterday’s practice. They haven’t found a rhythm yet but they have the ‘OK’ to play and I believe they will be in the 12-man squad.”
Milano will travel to Piraeus with Lithuanian forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas. He’s practiced twice with his new team and will make his debut on Friday.
“He’s good in both open court and set game situations. Kuzminskas will make Milano quicker, more qualitative and more energetic in the forward positions. They are a complete team already so we’ll wait and see how they’ll use him. Inevitably, some others players might get secondary roles now,” said the coach of Olympiacos.
Olympiacos is 11 – 4 and second in the EuroLeague standings while Olimpia Milano has fallen to the last three spots of the table with 4-11.