Recap
Real Madrid travelled to Athens already severely weakened in the frontcourt, missing starting center Tavares (9.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.6 apg) as well as his backup Alex Len (3 ppg, 2 rpg, 0.3 apg). That left coach Sergio Scariolo with Garuba (5.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 0.5 apg) as his only natural option at center. However, Garuba suffered a serious injury early in the fourth quarter against Valencia and had to be carried to the locker room by the medical staff.
As a result, Real Madrid enters the grand final practically without a true big man in the rotation, which could create enormous problems in the paint. That issue becomes even more significant against Olympiacos, arguably the strongest frontcourt team in Europe, led by the imposing trio of Milutinov, Hall and Jones.