By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos guard Janis Strelnieks surely stepped up in a timely fashion for his team in the last two EuroLeague games: The road win over Bayern Munich and the victory over Real Madrid at home.
Strelnieks, that had missed Round 5 & 6 games due to an adductor injury, was scoreless in the first three quarters vs. Bayern Munich Tuesday (21/11). Yet with the score 49 – 50 and eight minutes remaining, the Latvian player made his first bucket and proceeded to finish with 10 points, including the “dagger” for the 58 – 70.
In the mid of the third period against Real Madrid and at a moment when the Spanish team had nearly erased a 12-point deficit to make it 55-52, the previously “silent” Strelnieks was unleashed to keep his team’s head above the water with back-to-back baskets en route to registering a season-high 15 points.
“After being a couple weeks off due to the injury I have to find a rhythm. I’ll always find it (the rhythm) during the games. Step by step,” Stelnieks said regarding getting his form back following his injury.
Strenieks saw Olympiacos captain scored 16 points over 10 minutes in the first half and 20 overall. Nothing surprising for him though.
“That’s nothing for him (Spanoulis)”, Strelnieks said.