A week full of training forOlimpia Milanwith the good news regarding Shavon Shields, before kicking off the LBA semi-final against the Germani Brescia. The first match is scheduled for Saturday evening at the Unipol Forum, when the first answers will arrive on a series that promises to be quite challenging for Melli and his teammates, against a team that has remained at the top since the start of the championship. The two previous matches in the championship ended with a victory for each side, but they are not particularly significant, given that key players were missing in Milan in the first leg and in Brescia in the second leg.
Olimpia Milan-Brescia | The rhythm
Germani likes it play fast, trying to raise the pace, the number of possessions and the score, also trying shots, especially from outside, even in the first seconds of the action. Also a bit of what Trento tried to do in the quarterfinals, as long as their legs and breath held out. Magro’s team is deeper than L’Aquila and, therefore, much more ‘resistance’ than L’Aquila. Olimpia, despite having demonstrated that it can win even by reaching 90/100 points, will therefore have to try to control the pace and deploy their defensive physicality.
Olimpia Milan-Brescia | The Bilan factor
A key player in the series will be Miro Bilan. One of the few big men in Italy capable of really making a difference, with characteristics that have often put the EA7 in difficulty. A player capable of creating space near the basket, as he also did in more than one moment in the two regular season clashes. Open the field with the atypical red and white big men (Mirotic, Melli and Voigtmann) to tire him out by ‘chasing’ them outside the area, also removing the presence of the Croatian for the possible rebound, it could be decisive.
Olimpia Milan-Brescia | Help Napier
Another fundamental element, this time at Olimpia, is Shabazz Napier. A player who is growing in form and confidence but, during his Milanese adventure, has often shown himself to suffer from injuries physical defenses. Germani has players with those characteristics, capable of constantly pressuring him, first and foremost the returning Petrucelli. His teammates will have to be able to help him, so as not to make the attacks confusing, with the possibility of increasing the number of turnovers and launching the Brescia counterattack.
