By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Back in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after a five-year break, Milos Teodosic averaged just over 14 minutes per game over two appearances, since being cleared to return to action by Virtus Segafredo Bologna.
In charge of the Italian club following the triumph with the Spain senior national team in the 2022 EuroBasket, Sergio Scariolo discussed the restrictions necessary for the Serbian floor general and the plans to increase playing time.
“For sure, he has a long way to go, working to get in form, but being healthy is the most important thing right now,” he told Mozzart Sport, “We will steadily increase his playing time. He is not a player you can use excessively playing him for 30 minutes in each game, every other day. His skill, vision, passing abilities, and being able to stay one step ahead, make me confident he belongs on the floor. We must be careful with his health maintaining a balance to use his talents in the right way. It is necessary to not risk an injury by overloading him.”
“He has a huge impact on his teammates,” added Scariolo, “I try to explain to them that they can’t be like Milos, nor should they try to be. They need to learn from him how to maintain that level of concentration. Especially the young players. He can make impossible plays with his awareness and his feel for the game. He sees things before they happen. Of course, he is not an elite defender, but his understanding of defense and tactics are at the highest possible level. That is what the players must learn, not the no-look passes, so unique from such a genius and unmatchable.”
Teodocic, 35, is back averaging 8.0 points and 4.5 assists per EuroLeague game. However, both Tornike Shengelia and Awudu Abass are stuck on the injury list.
Going into the bottom end of the first two-game week of the season, the Bologna outfit carrying a 1-2 record is set to collide with Partizan Mozzart Bet in Belgrade tonight, Thursday. The team coached by Zeljko Obradovic will be seeking its first win after dropping the first three games.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net