2022-2023 Season Update
Olympiacos Basketball Season: A Look at the Season thus far
Olympiacos has had an eventful season so far. From big wins to key injuries, let's take a closer look at what's been happening with the team.
The Good: Big Wins
Despite a rocky start to the season, Olympiacos has had some big wins that have helped them climb up the Greek Basket League standings. One notable win was against Panathinaikos, their longtime rival, in a highly anticipated derby game. Olympiacos came out on top with a score of 91-84, with Sasha Vezenkov leading the team with 25 points. Another impressive win was against Promitheas Patras, with a final score of 92-65. This win was especially significant as it marked the return of Shaquielle McKissic, who had been out due to injury.
The Bad: Key Injuries
Speaking of injuries, Olympiacos has had their fair share this season. In addition to McKissic, who missed several games due to a hand injury, Vasilis Spanoulis has also been out for a significant amount of time due to a calf injury. Spanoulis is a key player for the team and his absence has been felt on the court. However, there is hope that he will return soon, as he has been seen practicing with the team again.
The Controversial: Fines and Suspensions
Olympiacos has also faced some controversy this season, with fines and suspensions handed out to players and coaches. One notable incident involved head coach Kestutis Kemzura, who was fined 5,000 euros for criticizing the referees after a loss to AEK Athens. Another incident involved center Kostas Papanikolaou, who was suspended for two games after making a gesture towards the opposing team's bench during a game against Aris.
Despite these challenges, Olympiacos continues to fight on and work towards their goals for the season. With the Greek Basket League playoffs coming up in May, the team will need to stay focused and overcome any obstacles that come their way.
Sources:
- "Olympiacos holds off Panathinaikos in Athens derby," EuroLeague.net, December 20, 2021, https://www.euroleague.net/main/results/showgame?gamecode=59&seasoncode=E2021#!report
- "Olympiacos crushes Promitheas in return of Shaquielle McKissic," EuroHoops, December 30, 2021, https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/1306452/olympiacos-crushes-promitheas-in-return-of-shaquielle-mckissic/
- "Olympiacos' Vasilis Spanoulis back in practice," EuroHoops, February 9, 2022, https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/1346934/olympiacos-vasilis-spanoulis-back-in-practice/
- "Olympiacos coach Kemzura fined 5,000 euros for comments on referees," EuroHoops, December 20, 2021, https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/1301648/olympiacos-coach-kemzura-fined-5000-euros-for-comments-on-referees/
- "Olympiacos' Kostas Papanikolaou suspended for two games," EuroHoops, January 17, 2022, https://www.eurohoops.net/en/heba/1321569/olympiacos-kostas-papanikolaou-suspended-for
It is clear that Olympiacos has truly had an up and down season. The rivalry win for one is a great achievement for them. I think it will give them marketing leverage over their Greek opposition, as they can market to fans that they are one of the best teams in Greece. As for the bad, they definitely need to clean up team behavior. Whether that is a coaching issue or certain players, it can have negative implications for advertising, as no one wants to sponsor a team with off the field issues.
ReplyDeleteYes, the coach and players need to clean their acts up during this difficult time for the team. They still are finding success as they are undefeated in the Greek basketball league which should help them solidify them as the best team in Greece and give them the most sponsorship opportunities possible. I think that they will clean up their act especially as players come back and tension simmers.
DeleteI think there is definetely still time for the Olympiacos to improve their success this season. It seems as if they been fighting really hard for the games they have won and have endured some big bumps along the way. Although, the coaching issue makes me question this coach's ability to perform and lead the team to success.
ReplyDeleteI think the coach was out of line as he should have kept his composure, however he is regarded as a very good coach and led the Olympiacos to a EuroLeague championship in 2012 before taking a leave from the team. They have put their head down and persevered this season and I hope that this makes the team tougher and ready for a run at the EuroLeague title this year.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this type of blog post! It definitely seems like Olympiacos has had quite a rollercoaster of a season. Injuries definitely put a damper on team play, especially if the injured player is one of the team's bests, but thankfully their injured players are recovering well.
ReplyDeleteYes this season has indeed been a roller coaster for the team. Hopefully the injured players are able to come back and play a role towards the back of the season and that the team is able to find some much needed cohesion and lock it in. We are hoping the rollercoaster goes up and keeps going that way once everyone gets healthy.
DeleteConsistency is often the biggest piece of long term success and it seems that is an area that Olympiacos has had trouble with. From random injuries, to unexpected losses and crucial fines and suspensions being levied against the players and coaches they will definitely need to focus and tighten up as the season progresses. If they are able to do this I believe they have the pieces they need to have a great deal of success in Greece and the EuroLeague.
ReplyDeleteI agree that consistency is very important for teams to gain success, however I think this adversary will be also important for the team once they get settled and get all of the players back from injury. They are finding success while their backs are against the wall and I think that will make them stronger down the road. If all things work out, I think they are one of the teams to beat in the EuroLeague this year.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading this post and I think that it is evident that Olympiacos has had quite a season. I think that the fines and suspensions, as well as the injuries really has hurt the team, but with that being said, I think they still have time to change things. I am curious about the coaching staff and how that has had an influence on their season so far.
ReplyDeleteThe coaching staff is regarded as very good, as the current coach was also the coach of the team that won the EuroLeague in 2012. He was brought back after the team was starting to stall out, so it is surprising to see some of the controversies that have surrounded the team thus far this season. I believe injuries have played a role in these issues and the team is most likely frustrated, however they still need to sort these issues out.
DeleteI think Olympiacos Basketball team has had a rollercoaster season so far, with some impressive wins and unfortunate injuries. The team's wins against Panathinaikos and Promitheas Patras have helped them climb up the Greek Basket League standings. The team has also faced controversy with fines and suspensions handed out to players and coaches, but they remain determined to overcome any obstacles and achieve their goals for the season. So it'll be interesting how the rest of their season goes
ReplyDeleteI suspect that the team will have a good end of the season as they have already survived some turmoil throughout this season and continue to pick up key wins over rivals. Hopefully once the team gets healthy again we will be able to see their full potential and get all of the other stuff sorted out by playing good team basketball.
DeleteI think that despite the crazy season Olympiacos has had with all of the suspensions and injuries, they have been playing as well as they can. With a few big wins against some prominent teams in the Euro League, they are proving to still be holding on.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, you would like to see some of the on-court shenanigans get sorted out especially from a player that has a large role. I do not think the coaches fine has much impact as criticizing the referees always occur in sports, however is not a great look for the team as a whole. All this being said I do think it is a good sign for the team moving forward that they have continued to win big games and play good basketball this season.
DeleteI think they have indeed proven to be the best team in the EuroLeague. They have one of the best players in the league with their center Sasha, and have endured so much already this season. They have a great coaching staff that should be able to maintain their success and then take it to the next level once everyone gets back. I think this is a situation with dealing through all of these hardships will make the team even better once everyone gets back.
ReplyDelete