Olympiacos experiment with two-center lineup, comeback to beat Fenerbahce 82-77 in Crete

The final four minutes at the Nea Alikarnassos indoor hall in Heraklion were not for the faint of heart. Olympiacos had just allowed Fenerbahce to take an 8-point lead, once again, in a game where they had been playing catch-up multiple times. But then Evan Fournier, the new summer signing, stepped up. He finished the game with 19 points, including crucial baskets in the closing stretch, alongside Tyler Dorsey, who had an inefficient shooting day but shone when it mattered most. The eventual 82-77 victory was more than just a friendly win; it was a signal from the European champions' locker room about how they intend to rebuild their strength. The context of this game is not the EuroLeague, but the 6th Crete International Basketball Tournament. This was Olympiacos's first game since their win at SEF, and 61-year-old head coach Giorgos Bartzokas had clear intentions. He rested several key players like Nikola Milutinov, Sasha Vezenkov, and new signing Jean Montero (who arrived on September 2), and even team captain Kostas Papanikolaou and Giannoulis Larentzakis did not travel with the team due to discomfort. With a 13-player agreement, Bartzokas was not looking to chase points but to test a new formula. The tactical highlight was the starting lineup: Cody Miller-McIntyre, Tyler Dorsey, Tyson Ward, Tyrique Jones, and Donta Hall. This is a complete deviation from the small-ball trend dominating modern basketball. Using two traditional centers (Jones and Hall) simultaneously is a bold experiment. And the data suggests it worked: both players scored in double figures. They not only protected the paint but also served as targets on offense, creating an imposing presence near the rim that Fenerbahce, despite their solid defense, struggled to handle. Resilience was a recurring theme. Olympiacos fell behind by 8 points multiple times in the second half and early in the third quarter, but they never let the opponent pull away. They finished the game making 28/38 free throws, compared to the opponent's 22/30, along with 17 assists and 9 steals. These numbers not only reflect determination but also the ability to apply pressure on the perimeter. They forced 19 turnovers from Fenerbahce while committing only 12 themselves. However, a sober perspective is needed. This is a preseason game, an exhibition tournament in Crete, and its value should not be overstated. A single game cannot answer whether the two-center lineup can withstand the pressure of EuroLeague playoffs. The new system is still in its gelling phase, and the lack of advanced metrics like Offensive Rating or Defensive Rating makes it difficult to assess offensive and defensive efficiency. The reliance on Fournier and Dorsey's scoring in the final minutes is also a point to monitor, as consistency throughout the game remains a question mark. Looking deeper, resting several key players is not merely load management. It could be a deliberate strategy by Bartzokas to test and develop roster depth ahead of the new season. Limiting the minutes of new signings like Miller-McIntyre and Mbaye Ndiaye suggests a gradual evaluation rather than a trial by fire. Is this preparation for a long, grueling season where roster depth will be key? The answer will come in the final on September 6, when they face Crvena Zvezda on Cosmote Sport 4. Then, we will see if this experiment pays off or is just a noise signal in the long data stream of a season.