Olympiacos played their first preseason games of the season at the CRETE IBT, a tournament they went on to win after defeating Crvena Zvezda 87-77 in the final. The Reds returned from Crete with their first — albeit unofficial — trophy of the season, but for Georgios Bartzokas, the most important takeaway from the tournament was getting a first glimpse of a team that is still going through the process of rebuilding and finding its identity.
Olympiacos went 2-0 against two EuroLeague-level opponents, first beating Fenerbahce 82-77 before overcoming Crvena Zvezda 87-77. At this stage of preseason, the results matter less than the performances themselves, but the two games showed that Olympiacos already retains several of the elements that defined their game last season.
What did the new signings show?
Mbaye Ndiaye was undoubtedly the standout performer in the final. Georgios Bartzokas’ new addition made a very positive first impression, finishing the game against Crvena Zvezda with 16 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block, while shooting 5-of-7 from two-point range and a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the arc.
His start to the game was even more impressive, as he made each of his first four shots and played a major role in helping Olympiacos impose their tempo early on. The Reds’ Peters replacement is a very different player from Alec Peters, but he showed that he can bring plenty to Olympiacos with the range of qualities he possesses.
Jean Montero’s first real showing was equally encouraging. The Dominican guard, who did not feature against Fenerbahce, made his debut in the final and immediately demonstrated the offensive quality he can add to Olympiacos‘ backcourt. In 19 minutes, he recorded 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal without committing a single turnover.
There is no doubt that Montero is one of the players Bartzokas will want to see more of as preseason progresses. Despite being only 23 years old, he can bring several mature elements to the team and has established himself as one of the most dangerous young players in European basketball.
Codi Miller-McIntyre had a quieter introduction. The American guard was included in the starting five against Fenerbahce, but finished the final with just two points on 1-of-7 shooting. Of course, his value cannot be judged this early. Every player needs time to adapt to a new team and a new system. One thing is certain: once he finds his rhythm and becomes fully comfortable within Bartzokas’ system, he will be able to provide Olympiacos with many of the elements they brought him in for.
Olympiacos’ familiar faces
Among the returning players, Evan Fournier showed from the very beginning that he is already in good shape. After all, he arrived “hot” after spending the summer competing with the French national team. He scored 19 points against Fenerbahce and added another 11 in the final, where he also dished out five assists.
Donta Hall was another player who provided plenty for Bartzokas’ team, bringing explosiveness, athleticism and spectacle to the floor. Meanwhile, Tyler Dorsey played a decisive role down the stretch in the opening game of the tournament, helping Olympiacos complete their comeback against Fenerbahce.
Corey Joseph’s refreshed presence is also worth highlighting. From the very beginning of the season, the experienced guard showed signs that he could play a pivotal role for Olympiacos. With his experience and quality, Joseph adds a different dimension and some valuable characteristics to the Reds’ roster.
Of course, it is far too early to draw definitive conclusions. It is only September, the players are still working their way into game shape and the team’s chemistry and automatisms are still being built.
However, the tournament in Crete offered Olympiacos the first glimpse of how the new pieces could fit into the existing puzzle. And if Ndiaye and Montero’s performances are an early indication of what is to come, then this new-look version of Olympiacos is already shaping up to be a particularly intriguing one.