Olympiacos land in Crete: Jan Montero is the focal point, Milutinov returns, and the test named Fenerbahçe

Nikos Kazantzakis airport had never been so loud on an early September day. As Olympiacos touched down in Crete, hundreds of fans surrounded the arrivals area. It was Jan Montero, the new signing, who was the center of attention. Chants, jerseys thrust forward for autographs — the Belgian's appeal was evident from the very first moments. Giorgos Bartzokas, the head coach, also received a warm welcome. But stopping at the festive atmosphere would mean missing the entire story. This is the moment Olympiacos steps into the IBT tournament in Crete, a pre-season testing ground ahead of the Euroleague, where they will face Fenerbahçe in the semifinal on Friday, September 4. The question is not how they will be welcomed, but where this team stands on their journey to conquer European basketball. The context of this tournament is significant. On the other side of the bracket, Red Star will face Armani Milano. Four names, four different basketball cultures, one comprehensive test for any collective. In the Euroleague summer power rankings, Olympiacos sit second, only behind Panathinaikos. This implies they are expected to compete for the title. But rankings are just paper; they don't reflect the team's readiness. Look at the specific individuals. Jan Montero, who stated: "Olympiacos is a challenge and I like challenges." That statement shows the right attitude, but attitude doesn't replace tactical integration. As for Milutinov, the key center, there was an alarm when he left the team in low spirits. The good news is that the matter is resolved; he has returned and is ready to play. This return erases a major question mark regarding the interior defense. Bartzokas's tactical puzzle now revolves around one word: integration. How can Jan Montero, a player with creativity and penetration ability, find a common language with the surrounding players? Based on my experience following games, a high-profile newcomer usually causes a rhythm mismatch in the first 3-5 matches. The issue isn't talent, it's the pace of movement and ball-handling habits. Montero needs to learn to read the intentions of his new teammates, and vice versa. Milutinov's return greatly aids this process. A center who knows how to set screens and roll to the rim at the right time opens up space for any guard. The combination of an ambitious newcomer and an experienced pillar is the key to Olympiacos operating smoothly. But the pressure of expectation is real. The passionate crowd in Crete can add fuel, but it can also create undue pressure if results don't go as planned. The blind spot in this media-crafted narrative is that fan fervor and summer rankings guarantee nothing. Summer power rankings usually only reflect about 40% of the actual final standings. Euroleague history has proven this. Olympiacos is stepping into a trap of expectation. If they beat Fenerbahçe convincingly, the fever will rise. If they lose, criticism will quickly surface. The most important thing now is not winning or losing a friendly, but how the team handles tactical situations, how they react when trailing, and how they control the game's tempo. These are the real signals of readiness for a long season. Spreadsheets don't lie — only lazy readers deceive themselves. In this case, our spreadsheet is empty because no game data has been recorded yet. But that doesn't mean we can't make reasoned judgments. I trust numbers more than people — because people can lie, numbers can only be wrong. And historical data shows that teams ranked highly in the summer often carry heavier psychological pressure into the season. The greatest stories in football lie in unread data columns — and the same applies to basketball. Look at how Milutinov was reintegrated. Him leaving discouraged and then returning indicates an effective internal process. That's a positive signal regarding locker-room culture, a factor often overlooked in tactical analyses. So what happens next? Let's not talk about the Euroleague title yet. Let's talk about the semifinal against Fenerbahçe. This is the first test, and it will reveal a lot. If Montero plays freely and makes a difference, that's a good sign. If he's contained and disappears, that's a problem to solve immediately. Bartzokas will have a clearer answer after 40 minutes of play in Crete. And when the regular season begins, we'll know whether the fervor at Nikos Kazantzakis airport was the start of something truly great, or just a beautiful welcome ceremony on a summer day. Numbers don't interrupt the narrative — they tell a different story, and rarely are they wrong.