By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos will likely have to secure a EuroLeague playoffs spot without Vassilis Spanoulis. The Reds’ captain suffered an right ankle injury during the recent game against AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan on the road. He was already taken out of the two upcoming EuroLeague games, but further tests revealed a heavy sprain. He will be evaluated next week, but his recuperation timetable will possibly be extended until the end of the Regular Season.
With Janis Strelnieks also sidelined, Nigel Williams-Goss, Vangelis Mantzaris and Briante Weber will be the only available guards down the stretch of Europe’s premier competition. The goal as it stands is for Spanoulis to return in time for playoffs action provided Olympiacos punches its ticket without the 36-year-old combo guard on the court.
The Reds are currently tied with Panathinaikos OPAP on EuroLeague’s eighth place with both Greek teams riding on a 13-13 W-L record. Spanoulis played in 25 out of the 26 first games of the 2018-19 campaign averaging 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists.