Without the likes of Shields, Lo and Mirotic, the Italian side still managed to record an important victory in Round 17.
Injury-plagued Milan leaned on a new Big Three in Baskonia win
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EA7 Emporio Armani Milan finished the first half of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season in style, downing Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 76-67 despite being without five players who are either injured or unavailable. But the good news is that reinforcements are on the way.
Shavon Shields was a last-minute scratch in Round 17, joining Maodo Lo, Nikola Mirotic and Giampaolo Ricci on the team's injury list. Milan also found itself without new signing Shabazz Napier following his move from another EuroLeague team, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade. However, the American guard, who shined so brightly at Mediolanum Forum last season, will be available to play from Round 18. Or, in other words, next week.
"I think the whole team played a fantastic game," said Milan head coach Ettore Messina after the game. "I have no words. In this situation, if you look at the five players sitting in the stands in this game, you think it is probably a playoff team."
Voigtmann, Melli stepped up for Milan
If you took a glance at Milan's available players, the ones with the most experience were in the frontcourt positions: Kyle Hines, Johannes Voigtmann and Nicolo Melli. As such, it was only natural for Milan to get its big men involved as often as possible against Baskonia, and that plan worked to perfection.
Melli had 12 in the second quarter alone, a period in which Milan took off. Voigtmann completed a double-double with 8 minutes left in the third quarter. At halftime, Melli and Voigtmann combined for 25 points and a PIR of 35. As a team, Baskonia combined for a PIR of 30.
In order to find a balance on offense, Milan needed a third wheel, a backcourt player that could be a threat at all times.
"I am very proud of the guys that came in and didn't play a lot of minutes in the last couple of weeks. They made a great effort," Voigtmann said. "Everybody who came in gave us something. It was not the perfect game, but we are very happy with the win."
Flaccadori also made his presence felt
Voigtmann didn't mention him, but he was definitely talking about Diego Flaccadori, who stepped up big at both ends of the floor. Flaccadori scored 11 points before the break, before finishing the game with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. He also helped Milan limit Baskonia's top scorer Markus Howard to just 7 points and a PIR of -7.
Melli led the way with 21 points and 3 blocks and Voigtmann added 19 points and 12 rebounds, meaning Milan's new Big Three – for one night only, at least – combined for 54 points.
"It was an important game for us, mostly after Shavon's injury. We had to stick together and try to win this game," Melli said. "I think that everybody made a step forward and we came home with a win.
“Everybody is very focused and ready. We knew the task at hand and knew it wasn't easy, because we had a lot of absences and Baskonia is a very good team. But everybody was focused and came ready, and we showed it on the court."
Milan's next game is on the road at Olympiacos Piraeus and it will be the first time Napier can play since his move, or so Melli expects.
"Hopefully with Shabazz! We are halfway through the season, so the way is still long."
The road is long, indeed, but if Napier is able to provide Milan with the same boost he did last season, there could be many happy days ahead for fans of The Little Red Shoes.