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Olympiacos, Baskonia fight for big goals

Olympiacos, Baskonia fight for big goals

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Olympiacos, Baskonia fight for big goals

The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season reaches its end and brings several critical games. In one of them, when Olympiacos Piraeus (23-10) hosts Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (18-15) at Peace and Friendship Stadium on Thursday, both teams play for important, if different, goals.

This is what's at stake: Olympiacos looks to clinch first place and Baskonia will probably need a win to make it to the playoffs. Olympiacos will lock up first place with a victory or if Real Madrid (23-10) loses against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (19-14) in a game that tips off 5 minutes later.

Currently ranked eighth, Baskonia will qualify for the playoffs with a win, regardless of other scores. It will also advance if it loses and FC Bayern Munich (11-22) downs Zalgiris Kaunas (18-15). If it loses and Zalgiris wins, Baskonia will be eliminated for the playoffs race.

It should be a special game for Olympiacos forward Alec Peters, who played for Baskonia in each of the last two seasons. He is one of 13 players that wore both jerseys in the Euroleague. Only one of them, Ioannis Bourousis, was able to take both Olympiacos and Baskonia to the Final Four. Arvydas Macijauskas earned 2004-05 All-Euroleague First Team honors with Baskonia, leading his team to the 2005 championship game, and played for Olympiacos before injuries forced him to retire. Other notable players who wore both jerseys are Wade Baldwin, Ruben Wolkowysky, Taylor Rochestie, Mirza Begic and Doron Perkins.

Baskonia has been one of the best teams at home this season with a 14-3 record, but struggled on the road, winning just 4 of 16 games. At Buesa Arena, Baskonia averages a league-best 96.1 points, hitting 60.4% of its two-point shots and going 41.8% from downtown. On the road, Baskonia averages 77.4 points and ranks 17th in three-point shooting (30.8%).

There are many matchups in this game but the one at the point guard position stands out. Baskonia's Darius Thompson is having an outstanding debut season, leading the 2022-23 EuroLeague in assists at 6.7 per game. Stopping Thompson should be a priority for Olympiacos, which has the right man for this job. Thomas Walkup is one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the world, and leads the competition in steals (1.9 spg.). Both players have similar numbers but different playing style: Thompson thrives in transition while Walkup is a great pick-and-roll player in half-court offenses.

When these teams faced each other in Round 4, each entered the game with a 3-0 record. Olympiacos rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Baskonia 92-97 at Buesa Arena behind 26 points from Sasha Vezenkov and 20 from Kostas Sloukas. Maik Kotsar led Baskonia with 16 points. Sloukas, Walkup and Giannoulis Larentzakis combined on 8 of 8 free throws in the final 80 seconds to make sure the Reds returned home with a valuable victory.

Historically speaking, Baskonia has struggled at Peace and Friendship Stadium. Baskonia is 4-18 on the road against Olympiacos, losing against the Reds in 16 of its last 17 trips to Piraeus. Its last victory, however, is quite recent. Baskonia defeated Olympiacos 76-90 on November 26, 2020 with 18 points from Zoran Dragic.

When it comes to do-or-die games, Baskonia always prevailed, sweeping Olympiacos in the 2001 and 2007 playoffs. Fun fact: Despite combining for 16 Final Four appearances – 17, if you count Baskonia reaching the 2001 Finals – these teams have never played in the same one.

There is a possibility that Olympiacos and Baskonia will face each other again in the playoffs, but we will find that out at the end of the round. In the meantime, EuroLeague fans have a chance to enjoy a top-class showdown with a lot at stake!