Clash between the fifth and sixth in the standings at the Mediolanum Forum. Andrea Trinchieri’s Bayern, probably the Most Improved Team of the year tied with Xavi Pascual’s Zenit, arrives in Assago with the ill-concealed intention of avenging the defeat in the first leg (79-81 last October 2nd at Audi Dome) and overturn the goal difference. The AX Exchange of Ettore Messina announced the absence of four players, as Shields and Micov were joined by Roll and Brooks.
This is how coach Trinchieri presents the challenge briefly: “The key will be to stay strong in our heads even if they will get high percentage shots from the bow”. Ball two at 20:45.
Inside and outside. Gigi Datome #together pic.twitter.com/TnYzAbxaqi
– Olimpia Milano (@ OlimpiaMI1936) January 21, 2021
1Q – 2’10 “for Leady in scoring the first basket of the match; Delaney doubles, then Leday steals the ball and is fouled while flying to the basket, but makes 2/2 to the free 6-0. Weiler-Babb shortens by two with 6’17 “, but Punter goes to the line 8-2. Bayern in confusion: Lucic misses the throw-in, Moraschini goes with the triple from the corner and Punter on the break 13-2 in the 5 ‘. The sixth turnover of the Germans makes Trinchieri call a timeout. The coach changes the pair of longs, Lucic fails a comfortable support to the basket, Punter goes into one on one, basket and additional free, with 3’32 “16-2. Zipser puts in a triple from a distance and Weiler-Babb a counter-attack from 2 + 1 16-8. Response from Hines, Bayern however do not get in at all. Tarczewski goes to the line for 2/2 in the last minute, then Reynolds sets the fourth on 20-10.
2Q – Reynolds and Datome open the scoring; Rodriguez rebounds in defense and launches Datome, who gains two free 2/2 for 24-12 with 7’50 “. Bayern does not find any breaches in the defense of Milan, for the eighth lost by the Bavarians. Timeout Trinchieri. Yes restarts with a floater from Rodriguez, and a 1/2 from Johnson 26-13. Pick’n’roll between Delaney and Hines devastating 28-13 at 15 ‘. Bayern miss all the fallible, including the alley-oop 1 against 0 by Radosevic; Punter finds a 2 + 1 for +18. With 3’36 “Radosevic scores from an attacking rebound. Trinchieri also puts Flaccadori, who makes 1/2 to free. Leday by three after an attack finally ordered, Weiler-Babb commits his third foul in attack 34-16 with 2’22 “. Rodriguez has the ball of +20 and marameo Radosevic. Timeout +20. Four points in a row of the Germans closed by Hines and Leday’s 1/2. Bayern’s confusional state, which suffers a triple at the 24th second by Rodriguez, does not finalize the 5 “that remain on the clock even in a throw-in 42-20.
Never leave a passage for Kyle Hines … ????#EurosportBASKET | #Euroleague | @ OlimpiaMI1936 | @SirHines pic.twitter.com/38SIA6RCv0
— Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) January 21, 2021
3Q – 20 seconds for Hines’ basket, then Moraschini’s triple make timeout calls to coach Trinchieri, who at the break had commented that it was time for his team to show up. Reynolds scores with 8’30 “. A 0-6 break with Reynolds and Gist revives Bayern, but Delaney with 6’24” completes a three-point game 52-28. Baldwin puts in two in the 25th minute. Leday yes but Hines no with 0/2 to free and Rodreiguez for a 4-0 tear closed by Reynolds. Tarczewski returned, for two more points that keep Bayern in hell, also because Messina screams and advises on the bench to keep concentration high. Game accident for Weiler-Babb, Flaccadori assist to Gist but Rodriguez places the triple +29. A free by Seeley, and two consecutive blocks by Biligha on Flaccadori and Gist close the quarter 63-35.
4Q – Reynolds opens the scoring of the fourth, and a minute later Trinchieri sends the other Italian Sasha Grant on the field. Flaccadori and Grant’s assist for Radosevic are worth 63-43, and Messina calls a minute of suspension with 7’09 “. Delaney’s triple with 5’56” which cancels the excellent impact of Grant, Moraschini, the two-ball “made in Sardinia” between Datome and Grant are and curiosities in the middle of the fourth. There is also room for Moretti with 3’30 “at the siren; Moraschini scores from the logo in the 24th second for +27. Flaccadori’s three-point game, Seeley’s fifth foul which are two free for Moretti, two for Biligha among other little things to remember.
The comment: mission accomplished with a disarming sense of superiority against Bayern that the Milanese defense, rather than the attack, made unrecognizable. They never catch us, Trinchieri’s men, without archery (2/14) and forced to 20 turnovers from the area that collapses in the small area and bursts of pressure across the board. Some records for Olimpia with the fourth victory in the streak and the lowest score granted to the opponents (51) by tweaking the one at Alba Berlin (55, first leg). And without even overdoing it with archery.
Olimpia Milano – Bayern Munich 75-51. Boxscore: 14 Rodriguez, 12 Punter, 11 Moraschini, 10 Leday, 8 Delaney and Hines, 4 Datome and Tarczewski, 2 Moretti and Biligha for Olimpia (13-7); 12 Reynolds, 8p + 2r + 2as Flaccadori, 6 Gist and Baldwin for Bayern (12-9).
