Messina comments on Napier's form, condition of Milan's injured players / News - Basketnews.com

Ettore Messina had a strong reaction when asked about Shabazz Napier's and Diego Flaccadori's performances vs. Tortona and cleared up the air on the player whose comeback is expected soon.

Credit: Fabrizio Andrea Bertani/Alto Press via ZUMA Press Credit Fabrizio Andrea Bertani/Alto Press via ZUMA Press

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan survived a closed clash against Bertram Derthona that went down to the wire (83-82).

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan / Schedule

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan ALBA Berlin82-76 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade62-76 Valencia Basket EA7 Emporio Armani MilanFri19:30

Devon Hall saved the Italian champions with a layup and less than 30 seconds remaining. Tortona had managed to get back in contention with a partial score of 8-0 and a triple by Colbey Ross, who failed to reply to Hall's basket.

Nicolo Melli racked up an LBA scoring-high 23 points, to go along with 8 rebounds. Shabazz Napier and Devon Hall scored 14 points apiece for the winning side.

"It's obvious that the last two minutes until Hall's basket were very poor. Obviously, we have to look at them because we have to and can do much better," Milan's head coach Ettore Messina said in the presser.

The veteran tactician praised his captain.

"Melli had an incredible game," he argued. "His rating says it all. He took us by the hand, along with Hall, in a difficult match. They have done things of great responsibility and of great quality".

When a journalist called Shabazz Napier's and Diego Flaccadori's performances "bad," Messina reacted strongly.

"Is yours a polite way to say that he played a poor game? He [Napier] knows that, too," the play-caller stressed.

"Our guards definitely didn't have their best game. Now we have a EuroLeague single week, which means that they can work and recover energy. I am sure that this Friday they will be as they were until last Friday".

Messina was also asked about the condition of several players, as Shavon Shields, Nikola Mirotic, Maodo Lo and Billy Baron remain sidelined.

"I've been told that the media report that Lo and Baron are close to returning. No, [they're not]. The only one who's close [to returning] is Shields, who is doing some encouraging individual workouts," Messina revealed.

"If he continues like that and no mishap befalls him, he shall be able to give me 10 minutes in Friday's game. But it's the only one. Baron, Lo and Mirotic's cases will be discussed later."

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