Bartzokas and Peters about Baskonia
Olympiacos is summoned to leave the loss to Barcelona behind, since tomorrow (12/01) will be facing off against Vitoria in Baskonia, for the 21st Euroleague round.
"The tempo Baskonia imposes in their gym as well as their playing style are always a problem for the opponent", was what the coach of Olympiacos, Giorgos Bartzokas initially commented regarding the game against the Basques. "If you don't have the proper plan or if you don't follow it, if you don't control your possessions when in offense, if you don't make good choices when in offense, if you allow them to have the ball, if you make hasty choices that can lead to transition, the tempo opens up. They are a team that is really good at it. They play in a very specific way on both ends of the court under coach Ivanovic, but also, they are that kind of a team, which is something generally imposed both by the club as well as by the atmosphere in the arena. We obviously need to play a better game than the one against Barcelona. Some reporter wrote that we were lacking something in that game. I haven't read his analysis, but it's true, something was missing in order for us to win. What was missing, was that it really a reactive game, and not one of action. We let the game slip from us twice, in both the first and third quarters. We started the game with the wrong approach. We weren't good at giving emphasis on the crucial parts of the game. We reacted both times, we closed in to one shot, we could have made that shot 3 - 4 times and tie the game just before the end and gain momentum. But, reacting all the time is not a logical in the Euroleague, our team must be the one to set the rules. To impose the playing style and let everyone else react to that".
On his part, Alec Peters, who had worn Baskonia's jersey in the past, pointed out that: "We must do all those things that put a stop to the hosting team's momentum. Foul hard, play tough defense, especially against Baskonia's scorers. Obviously on Howard, on whom we are going to be focusing tomorrow, and also on Moneke. They have many weapons as a team and as players that can offer them score and they do it in very little time".