12-0 with idling engines
Olympiacos bested Panionios 87-73 for the 12th day of the Greek League and continues being the only team at the top and undefeated at the same time.
The players of Giorgos Bartzokas entered the game determined to finish it the soonest possible. Printezis and Spanoulis took action and the first quarter closed at 26-15.
The difference even reached 19 points (43-24) one minute before the end of the first half with Printezis having a lot of help from Poweell. The ‘reds’ did not play in defense as required in the third quarter resulting for Panionios to score 27 points during that time and close in at 7, but the European Champions once again stepped on the gas and made a 14 points difference at the end of the third quarter (70-56).
The players probably started thinking about Siena in the fourth quarter and Olympiacos played just as much as needed to reach the final 87-73 relatively easy.
The quarters: 26-15, 46-31, 70-58, 87-73
Olympiacos (Bartzokas): Hines 6, Law 8, Antic 2, Spanoulis 13, Perperoglou 9, Shermadini 2, Sloukas 6, Powell 12, Printezis 16 (2), Papanikolaou 8 (2), Μantzaris 5 (1).
Panionios (Sferopoulos): Bogris 4, Payne 5 (1), Athinaiou 7 (1), Keys 9 (3), Millburn 9 (1), Athanassoulas, Batis 3, Jankovic 22 (2), Kavvadas 3, Pappas, Dragisevic, Booker 11.
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “We beat a very strong opponent. It was one of the very few games that we had two meetings to discuss the other team. Panionios was serious, but we managed to control the game early on. We have to take a look at the third quarter. When the difference got wider Panionios loosened up, but we received many points and that’s a product of analysis and learning. The schedule is overwhelming. Our minds are focused at preparing the game against Siena. There had been four plays when the weak side was not eyeing the ball. Points are not an issue of concern. Panionios has a lot of talent, they have roles and it wasn’t logical to keep at low scoring levels. These four plays in the first half have to trouble us, but the biggest problem has been receiving too many perimeter points. We came back from Barcelona and there was the notion that we had had to win. It’s a Greek phenomenon to overanalyze everything. We have a 23-4 record. I respect everyone, but there are players that have been increased by one and there is a staff dedicated at achieving goals. Unfortunate results are going to happen and we have to be able to evaluate them accordingly. Barcelona lost by 20 for the Spanish League and that means there is a lot of pressure. We are a young team, we practice well and I believe that in due time we are going to be playing better, when other teams are going to be playing worse. This is a very decisive month because we play Panathinaikos, the Greek Cup final and the TOP-16. At the moment, we only look at the next game and not at how we are going to make the play-offs. That’s what I have also told my players. I’m overwhelmed by the number of games we have to face. I’m more interested in our team defense. Jankovic has scored many points. You win someplace and you lose someplace else”.
GIORGOS PRINTEZIS: “We played against a good, strong and structured team, one of Euroleague level. We reacted well, but we have had some voids in our defense receiving easy baskets. Should we fix some details, we are going to be better. We did a good job offensively and should we improve our defense, we are going to be one of the best teams in Europe. We have to stop relating this season to the last one. There is big talk when we win and everything changes when we lose. We still have a long road ahead of us. We are at a good level. We have to have a proper reaction against Siena. We have to only focus at the game ahead of us, never further than that. Should we remain in a good shape, we have nothing to be afraid of”.