Coach Galbiati: Olympiacos not yet in form, this is a good time to face them

In a pre-match press conference in the top European club basketball competition, Italian coach Galbiati made notable comments about opponents Olympiacos. He assessed the Greek club as still a powerhouse, but currently not at peak form. According to him, this is a suitable time for his team to achieve a favorable result. Olympiacos entered the season with many changes in the squad. They parted ways with guard Walkup, who was considered very important in the defensive system and ball control. To replace him, they brought in Miller-McIntyre and Montero, two players capable of creating breakthroughs on offense. At the forward position, Peters was replaced by a player with superior physical attributes named Entzai. This change could make Olympiacos stronger in contests and defensive transitions, but could also reduce their long-range shooting – an important factor in modern basketball. Center Milutinov is uncertain to play. He is the most important link in Olympiacos's lineup. Without him, the Greek club's interior strength will decrease significantly. This is a variable that could directly affect the course of the match. On Galbiati's side, they have had only three official training sessions. Center Alex Len is not even on the 12-man roster. This shows that his team is not fully ready in terms of personnel. However, Galbiati remained optimistic: "The whole team has a lot of will." He also emphasized that his team will try to perform as best as possible. Player Kurucs of this team believes they should face Olympiacos now, while they are not yet stable. Galbiati agrees with that view. He said: "It is better to face them now than when they have reached their highest form." This is an experienced assessment, because big teams often struggle early in the season, when new players have not yet integrated. Based on my experience of watching matches, teams with many personnel changes usually need one to two months to achieve the necessary cohesion. Olympiacos has changed both the backcourt and frontcourt, so they need time to build chemistry. This is an opportunity for smaller opponents. However, data shows trends, but not prophecies. Both teams are in the process of shaping their playing style. This match may have many variables. Olympiacos is still rated higher thanks to squad quality, but if they are complacent, an upset can happen. One notable point is the change from Peters to Entzai. Peters is a shooter capable of stretching the opposing defense, while Entzai is a physically oriented player. This could cause Olympiacos to lose long-range shooting, but become stronger in close-to-the-rim attacks. This is a tactical trade-off that Olympiacos's coach must calculate. In basketball, lacking a player capable of shooting from distance like Peters can affect offensive spacing. Defenses can shrink the gaps, making drives difficult. Conversely, the presence of a physical player like Entzai can help Olympiacos be more confident in contests and transition defense. Milutinov is a center capable of scoring and protecting the rim well. If he cannot play, Olympiacos will have to use a smaller lineup, which could give Galbiati's team an advantage if they have quick players. Galbiati's team has only three official training sessions, which shows they are not at their best preparation. However, sometimes a lack of preparation can be a surprising advantage, because the opponent does not have much information to analyze. But overall, this is a big challenge. Alex Len is not on the 12-man roster. This could be a fitness or registration issue. If Len cannot play, the frontcourt depth of Galbiati's team will be affected. However, the Italian coach remains calm. The match result will show whether Galbiati is right to choose this time to face Olympiacos. If his team wins or plays well, it proves his analysis correct. If they lose heavily, it may show Olympiacos is still stronger despite not being stable. Regardless of the result, this is a notable match. It shows that in basketball, timing and team cohesion can be as important as individual talent. Big teams need time to reach peak form, and smaller opponents need to seize the opportunity. In sports, nothing is certain. Data can indicate trends, but cannot fully predict results. The important thing is that teams must understand their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of the opponent. Galbiati has done that in assessing Olympiacos. The question is whether Olympiacos can quickly regain peak form, or will they have to go through a difficult period? The answer will come in the next rounds.