Andrea Trinchieri praised his team's response after a slow start in their loss to Olympiacos, highlighting their fight despite errors. He also noted the high number of free throws given to Olympiacos as a key factor.
Following Zalgiris Kaunas' defeat against Olympiacos Piraeus (74-68), head coach Andrea Trinchieri shared his thoughts on the game with SDNA.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
30
|
| Aleksandr Vezenkov | |
| Points | 17 |
| Accuracy | 3-5 |
| Rebounds | 11 |
| Assists | 1 |
Trinchieri acknowledged his team's struggles in the opening quarter, where they trailed by 15 points with just 6 points scored.
He pointed out that Zalgiris missed several layups and turned the ball over frequently, allowing Olympiacos to control the game early on.
"We were in shock in the first quarter, missing layups and handing the ball to Olympiacos. Offensively, we weren’t doing anything right," Trinchieri said.
However, he praised his team for regrouping and delivering three strong quarters afterward, managing to cut an 18-point deficit down to just two points at one point.
Trinchieri emphasized the positive takeaways from the match, particularly the passion and fight his players showed in the latter stages.
Despite numerous mistakes, he commended the determination of his relatively young squad, many of whom are still adjusting to the demands of the EuroLeague.
"Sometimes, it's better to see mistakes but also passion and desire. We fought back and made it a close game," he added.
He also acknowledged the difficulty of facing Olympiacos, who came into the game determined after their previous loss to Fenerbahce, playing with intensity on both ends of the floor.
Discussing the overall performance, Trinchieri pointed to the errors his team made, particularly their lack of creativity and excessive turnovers.
He remarked that the EuroLeague is especially challenging for rookies, with its fast pace and physicality.
Despite these hurdles, Trinchieri saw potential in his team’s ability to stay competitive, even narrowing the gap to two points during a crucial stretch.
"We made some mistakes, but we still reduced the gap to two points. That shows we are doing something right, but we need to improve our creativity," he stated.
Trinchieri also commented on the physicality of Olympiacos, particularly their size and depth with players like Nikola Milutinov and Moustapha Fall.
He expressed frustration with the number of free throws awarded to Olympiacos, specifically referencing Sasha Vezenkov's ability to draw fouls.
"Vezenkov started with 10 free throws; it felt like every time he looked at the referees, he got a foul. It’s very difficult when you face a team that gets 43 free throws," Trinchieri remarked.
Despite the challenges, he acknowledged Olympiacos as one of the top teams in the league, playing with the determination of a team aiming to win.
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