Pre-game breakdown
The Army Men will play shorthanded against historical rival. Three players are out: Kosta Koufos and Mikhail Kulagin are recovering after foot injuries, Will Clyburn is waiting for the surgery to be performed on his knee.
To fill up the roster coaches called CSKA-2 forward Daniil Kochergin to help during practices.
Because of the conflict with Greek Basketball Federation Olympiacos was relegated to the second division of the domestic league. The club uses its second team there. The first team plays in EuroLeague only.
Olympiacos started the season not so well, so the club went through changes. David Blatt stepped down from coaching duties after first game. His assistant Kestutis Kemzura took over. The team signed well-known point guard Taylor Rochestie and young center Willie Reed this week.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Olympiacos recently changed the coach and they also signed two new players, which says about their ambitions. Maybe they did not have the perfect start of the season but you cannot underestimate the club’s spirit and experience on the highest level that most of the players have. We have to play seriously and to remember that we have difficult schedule ahead – double-week in EuroLeague and three games in six days, including one in VTB League.
Janis Strelnieks, CSKA guard:
Olympiacos is a team that always play tough. No matter what happens during the game you have to be ready for them to run at you. They did it so many times, they have many players who won EuroLeague titles. We know it is going to be difficult, but we are going to be ready.
“Relativity” connections
Kyle Hines spent two seasons with Olympiacos from 2011 through 2013 and helped the Reds win back-to-back EuroLeague titles. He was a teammate there of four current Olympiacos players: Vassilis Spanoulis, Georgios Printezis, Kostas Papanikolaou and Vangelis Mantzaris.
Janis Strelnieks spent the last two season with Olympiacos Piraeus. He was a teammate of Nikola Milutinov, Kostas Papanikolaou, Aleksej Pokusevski, Georgios Printezis, Vassilis Spanoulis and Sasha Vezenkov.
Daniel Hackett played with Olympiacos for two seasons, from 2015 to 2017. He was a teammate there of several current Olympiacos players.
Mike James and Mindaugas Kuzminskas of Olympiacos were teammates at AX Armani Exchange Milan last season.
Important numbers
Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in nine of his last 10 games.
Mike James is tied for sixth this season in average PIR with 19.8 per game.
James ranks fourth this season with 19.3 points per game.
Darrun Hilliard has hit multiple three-point shots in seven of his last eight games.
Darrun Hilliard’s 16 three-pointers made lead the league through four rounds.
Kyle Hines ranks third all-time with 212 blocks.
Hines ranks second all-time with 518 offensive rebounds. Felipe Reyes is the all-time leader with 695.
Hines ranks sixth all-time with 868 two-pointers made.
Hines ranks eighth all-time with 1,163 rebounds. Kerem Gonlum is seventh with 1,189.
Janis Strelnieks ranks seventh all-time in free throw accuracy at 90.72%.
Janis Strelnieks needs 4 assists to reach 300 for his career.
Past matchups
Wins/losses: 24-14
1994-95 – European Championship for Men’s Clubs. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Olympiacos: 95-65 (+30)
1994-95 – European Championship for Men’s Clubs. Quarterfinals. Olympiacos – CSKA: 86-77 (-9)
1994-95 – European Championship for Men’s Clubs. Quarterfinals. Olympiacos – CSKA: 79-54 (-25)
1995-96 – European Championship for Men’s Clubs. Semifinal Round. CSKA – Olympiacos: 96-91 (+5)
1995-96 – European Championship for Men’s Clubs. Semifinal Round. Olympiacos – CSKA: 72-78 (+6)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round. Olympiacos – CSKA: 82-51 (-31)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round. CSKA – Olympiacos: 70-79 (-9)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round. Olympiacos – CSKA: 86-74 (-12)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round. CSKA – Olympiacos: 77-58 (+19)
1998-99 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round. CSKA – Olympiacos: 75-81 (-6)
1998-99 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round. Olympiacos – CSKA: 74-76 (+2)
2002-03 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Olympiacos: 74-67 (+7)
2002-03 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Olympiacos – CSKA: 77-79 (+2)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – Olympiacos: 80-66 (+14)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Top 16. Olympiacos – CSKA: 69-93 (+24)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Top 16. Olympiacos – CSKA: 64-85 (+21)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – Olympiacos: 83-79 (+4)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Olympiacos: 88-79 (+9)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Olympiacos – CSKA: 71-67 (-4)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Olympiacos: 74-76 (-2)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. Olympiacos – CSKA: 73-83 (+10)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals. CSKA – Olympiacos: 81-56 (+25)
2011-12 – Euroleague. Top 16. Olympiacos – CSKA: 78-86 (+8)
2011-12 – Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – Olympiacos: 96-64 (+32)
2011-12 – Euroleague. Final. CSKA – Olympiacos: 61-62 (-1)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Semifinal. Olympiacos – CSKA: 69-52 (-17)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Top 16. Olympiacos – CSKA: 84-76 (-8)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – Olympiacos: 76-70 (+6)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Semifinal. Olympiacos – CSKA: 70-68 (-2)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – Olympiacos: 92-85 (+7)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Top 16. Olympiacos – CSKA: 96-99 (+3)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Olympiacos – CSKA: 75-81 (+6)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Olympiacos: 90-86 (+4)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Semifinal. CSKA – Olympiacos: 78-82 (-4)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Olympiacos – CSKA: 88-86 (-2)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Olympiacos: 89-81 (+4)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Olympiacos: 69-65 (+4)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Olympiacos – CSKA: 81-97 (+16)
Short dossier
Olympiacos Pireaus, Greece
Founded: 1925 (1938 – basketball section)
Colors: white, red
Homecourt: Peace and Friendship Stadium (10.845)
Presidents: Panagiotis and Giorgios Angelopoulos
Head Coach: Kestutis Kemzura
Website: www.olympiacosbc.gr
Trophy case:
- 3-time Euroleague champions (1997, 2012, 13);
- Intercontinental Cup winners (2013);
- 11-time Greek champions (1949, 1960, 1976, 1978, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2012, 2015);
- 9-time Greek Cup winner (1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1994, 1997, 2002, 2010, 2011)
