Olympiacos bests PAOK on the road
A dunk my Jamario Moon eight seconds before the end of the game gave Olympiacos a 74-72 victory over PAOK in Pilea.
Our team did not start the game well. There was a lack of concentration in defense resulting for PAOK to lead 23-14. In the second quarter the Back2Back Champions of Europe improved their defense, made good offensive plays with Dunston, Moon and Collins and with a three by Stratos Perperoglou at the buzzer half – time closed 37-40 in favor of the guests.
Our team got a weak lead at the beginning of the third quarter, but threes made by Charalampidis, Tsairelis and Cooper allowed the hosts to come back and gain a seven points lead. Nevertheless, Olympiacos had not said its final word and with Moon, Dunston, Collins and Sloukas in leading roles the Back2Back European Champion returned to the game tying it 72-72. In the last play of the game Dunston and Sloukas trapped Cooper, Lojeski stole the ball, Moon dunked at fast-break and shaped the final 72-74.
The quarters: 23-14, 37-40, 51-52, 72-74
PAOK (Markopoulos): Payne 11, Cooper 14 (2), Charalampidis 17 (5), Tsochlas 3 (1), Τsairelis 13 (1), Dedas 2, Margaritis 4, Kalles 5, Kaselakis 3 (1).
Οlympiacos (Bartzokas): Moon 11 (3), Dunston 8 (7reb, 3bl), Spanoulis 6 (1), Perperoglou 3 (1), Sloukas 12 (1), Collins 12 (2 3p., 4reb), Simmons, Lojeski 9 (1 3p, 3as.), Printezis 8, Mantzaris 3 (1), Kavvadas 2.
SOULIS MARKOPOULOS: “I would like to congratulate Olympiacos for winning. They are a very good team. I wish them all the best in Greece and in Europe. Olympiacos is well established team in both Greece and Europe. The game had two faces. One in regard to the way the refs decided and one in regard to what happened in the game. PAOK has a lot to complain about the officiating. Referees decided differently on similar plays. As for the game itself, we had some last minute problems with Bogris, we changed the way we think and act on the floor and played with fast big players. We began well, Olympiacos is a great team, was putting the ball inside and then out and we did not react to that. We came back in the third quarter despite the difference in favor of Olympiacos, but we had to play a lot smarter when we were leading by five in the last minute and get the victory. Olympiacos is a great team and got it themselves. If you want to know about the last play, I’ll tell you about 3-4 identical plays in the game that were decided as fouls while this one wasn’t. Our decision was to play a central pick n’ roll with Cooper for the last play and the rest of the players to be ready to shoot in case Cooper fell into a trap”.
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “It was a very good game and in a very particular atmosphere in regard to the gym being empty. Games should always be played with fans in the stands. The game had a lot of ups and downs both in performance and scoring. When we got a difference in our favor, did not put some extra effort to do what we had to do. At that point, PAOK made some big shots with Charalampidis and Cooper; we reacted well at the end, did what we had to do and won. Of course, when a game is decided at the very end, one also needs luck”.
Asked about Jamario Moon’s performance, Giorgos Bartzokas said that “we use Moon and Collins in the rotation for these games. PAOK is a serious team, something always apparent with Mr. Markopoulos’ teams”.
On the absence of Bogris and how that changed Olympiacos’ plans, the coach of the Back2Back European Champions said that “Bogris’ absence mainly changed the thinking of our players. We got into the game with our engines shut off. If you don’t run and fight you cannot beat anyone”.
Asked on why Vassilis Spanoulis did not play the last minutes, the 48year old coach said that “Spanoulis not playing the last quarter had to do with sharing minutes”
As for what the order had been in regard to the last play, the Greek coach said: “we had ordered for a trap on Cooper and Charlampidis so that we would then foul anyone the ball got to. I can’t be positive about the last play, we ordered for a trap and had the side line as an ally since Cooper chose that lane”.
Finally, as for Jamario Moon he said that “he’s an important player to us, he’s out of the rotation in the Euroleague, if we also take into account that it’s his first time in Europe, he’s motivated and shows quality, I’m happy with him”.
MARK PAYNE: “It’s only hard when you lose at the end this way. I’m happy with the way we fought, we could have obviously won. Olympiacos is an excellent team. We move on and focus on what comes next” PAOK’s American forward said, who was asked whether his team should have done something different in the last minute of the game.
“We made some mistakes in certain possessions that we could have avoided, there were some mistakes when changing players in defense before we received Moon’s three, it was a big shot for him, but mistakes are part of the game”.
Asked whether Cooper was fouled at the end Payne answered “I didn’t see and there’s nothing we can do about it now. We did not discuss about it in the locker rooms, but now there’s nothing that can change”.
MARDY COLLINS: “It was a very good game. Both teams went strong for the victory, played well, we did well when we found ourselves trailing and that’s what we keep from the game. We returned and got the victory”.