Valencia's speed meets Olympiacos' strength on the glass. Shorts can turn a clean rebound into an early attack, while Vezenkov and the Greek centers make every missed shot a contest for another possession. Both teams have shown they can answer a slow spell through other scorers. The rhythm of this match will come from how often each side can sustain those useful possessions.
Valencia has played at the league's fastest reported pace and has found scoring beyond Shorts. Against Hapoel, Puerto and Rivero helped rebuild a lead after it narrowed; against Barcelona, Brooks and Reuvers added a late reply. Olympiacos works through Vezenkov inside, Miller-McIntyre's creation and perimeter scoring from Dorsey, Fournier and Montero.
Shorts' first pass against Miller-McIntyre and Joseph is the key opening matchup. Sako, Mirotic and Valencia's other bigs will have to finish defensive possessions against Vezenkov and the Olympiacos center rotation. Valencia's secondary scorers give Shorts options after the first defensive adjustment.
Milutinov has returned and played in Olympiacos' recent games. Valencia's club reported its squad available, with the game roster still to be selected. Those roles keep the battle for rebounds and transition chances central to the matchup.
I expect Valencia to push after its clean rebounds and keep moving the attack when Olympiacos slows the first action. Shorts can reconnect the offense, and Taylor, Puerto, Rivero and the other supporting scorers have already shown how they can carry a stretch. That's why I'm siding with Valencia to win this match.
