By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Before Friday’s (19/10) blowout victory in Piraeus, Olimpia Milano hadn’t beaten Olympiacos on the road in four years. That win that took place during the 2013 – 2014 Top 16 stage, proved to be a key result for the Italian team en route to making the playoffs.
Since then, Milano had been facing Olympiacos every single season but never managed to capture a “roadkill”. At the same time, they’ve been struggling to make the playoffs, often falling behind in the Top 8 race way too early in the season.
2018-2019 might be an entirely different scenario though and this road win over Olympiacos could be a sign that foretells the “Red Shoes'” return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Nemanja Nedovic might not believe in such “omens” but he definitely thinks that he and his teammates are already making a strong case that they will be a force to be reckoned with this EuroLeague season.
“I don’t know if (this win) it’s a sign. But I think that people will take us more seriously now,” Nedovic told Eurohoops. “Our job is to just go out there and play hard every night. The team was very – very angry and upset about the defeat to Real Madrid because I think we could’ve won the game.”
Nedovic was silent in the first half vs. Olympiacos with just two points. Following the return from the locker room he “ignited” with 18 points, basically leading the charge towards his team’s ultimate dominance in the last stretch of the match. What helped him catapult his performance after the break?
“Curtis Jerrells,” Nedovic said to Eurohoops and speak of the devil since his teammate videobombed the interview to greet the Serbian guard. “He told me not to rely too much on my outside shot but to drive to the basket more because this is one of my big qualities. I just listened to him and i just drove to the basket more and things happened. I have to keep working because this is nothing and we have to take care of homecourt.”
Last season, Nedovic had his most productive run ever in EuroLeague. What can be expected from him this season?
“Ιt was the first summer where I had the chance to really work on my game and to work on my shape. That’s what I did. When I’m healthy, I think I play good. Every year since 2014 I was playing better and better. My goal is to be better than last year and help this team win as many games as possible. Like I’ve said many times the goal is to make the playoffs. That’s what we work for.”