Armani Milano – Virtus Bologna

Italy - Serie A Finals Game 2, June 11, 18:00 CET

It's obvious that the biggest Italian clubs, Armani Milano and Virtus Bologna, have been dominantly oriented towards attacking basketball since the start of the domestic Lega Basket Serie A final.
In the first game of the final on Friday, Armani won 92:82 in their arena. It's not just about the excellent execution - both teams decided on a dominantly faster pace of play compared to earlier, especially the first part of the season.
There are several reasons for insisting on the transition game, and first of all is the fact that both teams count on healthy, rested and ready key attacking options when it comes to guards.
The form of American guard Shabazz Napier is particularly impressive for Armani - a player with extensive NBA experience is finally healthy for months. In the first game of the final, he was by far the best player with 22 points (10-5 shooting three-pointers). It is clear that if Napier had been available to the famous coach Ettore Messina continuously during the winter and in the first part of the spring, the results of Armani in the Euroleague would have been drastically better.
The impression is that Virtus does not have enough good defenders to stop Napier and Shavon Shields, as well as Italian forwards Melli and Datome. For a good defense at this top level, it is not enough that the team from Bologna has one extra-class defender Daniel Hackett.
It is somewhat encouraging for Virtus that the famous playmaker Teodosic, after his recovery, had a good role in the first match of the finals (15 points and five assists). The famous forward from Georgia Shengelia also played well (16 points and six rebounds). However, Armani took advantage of the obvious advantage of having more quality options in the rotation. At the same time, only Shields in the winning team spent more than 30 minutes on the floor.
In Milano team, they are determined to defend their home ground with a new impressive attacking performance. This squad has scored at least 80 points in each of the eight playoff games so far, since mid-May - and as many as 86 points in seven.
The problem for Virtus is that it cannot be said that they are defensively competent team, even compared to Sassari, the team that Armani defeated in the semi-finals. Although extremely efficient in the playoffs, the club from Bologna has received at least 80 points ten times in the last 14 matches in all competitions (from April 8 and the end of the Euroleague). At the same time, Virtus was defeated only three times in that period, which is enough proof that they are a team that look for a transition game - but also allow it to the opponents.
Virtus won at home against Armani Milano 89:84 in the match played on April 13 and will certainly be a worthy rival - in the matches when they host Bologna. Good resistance from the guests is expected also in this next match in Milan, but above all, a good scoring performance by both teams. It seems that Armani Milano is closer to defending the title this spring, even the 30th in the club's history - and what is certain is that the Lega Basket Serie A final will provide European audience with the most entertaining spectacle of attacking basketball this June.