A dominant show against Ikaros
Olympiacos easily bested Ikaros Kallithea (85-63) and reached 15 victories following 16 game days for the Greek League.
The team of Giorgos Bartzokas entered the game determined to finish it early on so that they could then focus on the Greek Cup Final. The first quarter ended 20-15 and this only because the ‘reds’ weren’t playing their standard defensive game.
When, however, they improved their defense and combined to the improvement in the Spanoulis’ performance, the score margin became wider. The half time ended 43-34, but in the third quarter the ‘reds’ ran a partial 25-10 and practically … locked victory (68-44).
In the last quarter, the European and Greek Champion coach tried different things in view of the final, gave minutes to Mavroeidis, Gecevicius and Katsivelis with the Piraeus team reaching an 85-63 victory.
Τhe quarters: 20-15, 43-34, 68-44, 85-63.
Οlympiacos (Bartzokas): Hines 4, Law 9 (1), Spanoulis 10 (2), Perperoglou 5 (1), Shermadini 6, Sloukas 10 (2), Mavroeidis 2, Powell 8, Gecevicius 3 (1), Printezis 15 (1), Papanikolaou 11 (1), Katsivelis 2.
Ikaros Kallithea (Priftis): Stradt, Larentzakis, Kyritisis 15, Faye 8, Gibson 13 (2), Giannakidis 3 (1), Ekonomopoulos, Symtsak 4, Pantic 16.
GIORGOS BARTZOKAS: “It was a game that happened to take place between two important games. I hadn’t expected us to play well. I wanted to give minutes and play against a good team. The way Ikaros played helped us. We did not have an easy evening. Those who played had to do a better job than what they had thought they’d have before the game. Katsivelis entered the rotation following his injury and especially due to our lack of guards. It’s easier to prepare a game when you are coming from being defeated. We knew we were going to win, we tried some rotations with Perperoglou and Powell at “4”, but also with three creators. We moved the ball well, even against zone. Too many things came together. Law, Powell, Shermadini, Printezis, Katsivelis. But it’s only natural, when you don’t have the time to rest. The thing is to manage and come out of it invincible. That is if we take out the game against PAOK that cost us more due to the injury of Mantzaris. When we add a guard we’ll go back to our standard good levels. We are looking for a player while at the same time taking the necessary time. It’s important that we sign a good player. We have still 15 days to do so. We’ll make the addition and we hope it will be at the lowest possible cost”.
DIMITRIS KATSIVELIS: “It was a game for us that we had to keep focus. In between two important games. We weren’t strong defense wise in the first half. We were better next and got the victory”.
DIMITRIS PRIFTIS: “It was a game of certain expectations. We played well for three quarters. Olympiacos made the game easy for them in the third quarter running a 25-10 streak. There is one more game for us, the one against Panathinaikos, where we can improve and start being more consistent next. Good luck to both teams for the Cup final.” The coach of Ikaros Kallithea when asked about the Greek Cup Final said “these games are unique. Sometimes a not so strong team appears at its best. It’s a very particular time in the season. Olympiacos seems to be superior, but Panathinaikos also has a deep roster with many solutions and they have improved”.
VASSILIS SYMTSAK: “It was a tough game. We knew what we were up against. We stood our ground well, except for the third quarter. The game against Panathinaikos has the same meaning for us. We have to work more and try for the best focusing on the game against KAOD”.