Real Madrid and Olympiacos face off this Saturday in Athens to decide the EuroLeague champion. The white team arrives with injuries in the frontcourt, while the Greek team, seeking its first European title in 13 years, is favored with a clear physical advantage in the paint. Madrid, in its fourth final in five years, bets on rebounding and outside shooting to counteract the shortcomings.
The tactical key: controlling defensive rebounding and quick ball movement 🏀
Madrid must minimize Olympiacos's second-chance attacks. Without height in the paint, collective defense and defensive balance will be vital to prevent Fall and Milutinov from punishing near the rim. On offense, quick ball movement and three-point shooting, with Campazzo and Musa as executors, will aim to open up the rival defense. The ability to generate advantages from the pick and roll will be decisive in breaking the Greek rebounding control.
The weight scale, Madrid's big threat in Athens ⚖️
Madrid's plan is simple: run and shoot. But of course, when your starting center weighs the same as an Olympiacos fan's sandwich, rebounding becomes an act of faith. Hopefully the three-point line measures 7.24 meters, because if the game comes down to who pushes harder near the rim, Madrid will need a Data Protection sponsorship to prevent its rebounds from being stolen.