Olimpia Milano in the name of Shields and Mirotic: it is 2-0 in the semi-final against Brescia

Basketball, Olimpia Milano does an encore, it’s 2-0 over Brescia in the playoff semi-finals

“We started very well, playing a high level first quarter, then we got stuck a bit because we rushed the game in attack and when we went back to moving the ball the constructed shots didn’t reward us and this made us nervous. It was a second quarter that could have put us in great difficulty“, the words of Ettore Messina in the press room at the end of game 2 between Olimpia Milano and Brescia which saw the victory of the Italian champions 77-66 (the semi-final series is 2-0).

The home team immediately put the fifth on the board, taking a 15-point lead (20-5), in the second quarter the guests went back to -2 (31-29, then a basket by Shields closes the first twenty minutes at 33-29) and at the start of the second half they find the first tie at 35-35. At that point Olimpia regains control of the inertia of the match with an 8-0 that Brescia will no longer be able to mend (in the last quarter the team coached by Alessandro Magro reaches a maximum of -6).

Olimpia Milano, Ettore Messina: “Good at finding energy and solidity. I didn’t understand the referee’s rules”

The EA7 coach on the referees explains: “I saw a match with very strong contacts on both sides and both we and they didn’t have the slightest idea of ​​what the referee’s yardstick was. And so we were both dissatisfied, both us and them. I think some reflection is needed, given what is happening in these playoffs. The players on the pitch got nervous because they didn’t know how these fouls were punished, so the impression is that the trio wasn’t having their best evening.” And he underlines: “For this reason, we were good at finding energy, solidity and clarity in the second half. We attacked intelligently, distributed twenty assists and continued to defend, especially against Della Valle. He was probably also a little tired, but for us it was important to limit the number of shots. It was an important victory, but now we’re going to Brescia and we know it will be very tough.”

Olimpia Milano in the name of Shields-Mirotic. But what performances Melli, Tonut and Hall

Olimpia Milano’s victory is in the name of Shavon Shields (16 points with 4/4 from 2) – who immediately left his mark on the match and returned as a protagonist in the last fraction – and an excellent Mirotic (21 points and 7 rebounds in 25 minutes, the Montenegrin takes center stage in the second half). “Nikola was looked for and found a lot by his teammates, they put him in ideal conditions. He had important connections with Napier, Melli, Shields. If we have good ball circulation, if we pass it quickly, the best shooters also have better shots. I think he also worked well in defense. Maybe Burnell slipped away a couple of times, but for example on Gabriel, who is important, he was solid,” says the Olimpia Milano coach.

The defensive performances of the usual Nicolò Melli on Bilan were also decisive (for the captain also 7 rebounds and a very heavy triple at the end which marked the definitive advantage over Brescia) and of an excellent Tonut (good at containing Della Valle who this time closed with 9 points against 33 in game 1). “Nicolò played a very high level match. It was an important reference point, but I would also like to highlight the evidence of Stefano Tonut, who had a plus/minus of +25. That’s why I removed it at the end because I wanted it to get everyone’s applause. You played a great match and fortunately it wasn’t the first”, the words of Ettore Messina.

In the success of the Italian champions there was also a lot of all-round work from Devon Hall (11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists). And a good second half from Voigtman (when he scores 8 precious ones out of 10 in total, including 5 consecutive ones that allow the lead to 58-47 in the 29th minute) who is having a positive playoff run. And on the tests of the German champion Ettore Messina underlines: “He’s playing well. I hope it continues. It seems to me that he has confidence, that his teammates are looking for him. It’s a bit difficult for him to play two consecutive games, but he’s doing it, he always helps us a lot also in terms of ball circulation, so I really hope he continues like this until the end.”

On the 15 turnovers by Olimpia. “Sometimes they were the result of superficiality. In Game 1 we had two turnovers in the middle of the match. But it’s not easy, in all playoffs there are moments in which the inertia changes. Those who manage to have a high level of attention for more minutes have a better chance of winning. It also happened in the EuroLeague final: in five minutes the game changed. It’s a sport in which it doesn’t take much to lose clarity, patience and get nervous. This is why I attribute great value to what the team did in the second half,” explains Ettore Messina.

Olimpia Milano-Brescia, when game 3 is played

Olimpia Milano will return to the field for Game 3 of the semi-final of the LBA Playoffs 2024 against Germani Brescia on Thursday 30 May at 8.45pm at PalaLeonessa A2A.

EA7 EMPORIO ARMANI MILAN-GERMANI BRESCIA 77-66
(22-14; 33-29; 58-49)

OLIMPIA MILAN: Bortolani, Tonut 5, Melli 6, Napier 6, Ricci, Flaccadori 2, Hall 11, Caruso, Shields 16, Mirotic 21, Hines, Voigtmann 10. Coach Messina

BRESCIA: Christon 7, Gabriel 5, Bilan 8, Burnell 9, Massinburg 12, Tanfoglio ne, Della Valle 9, Petrucelli 10, Cobbins 6, Cournooh, Pollini ne, Akele. All. Skinny