Bartzokas: «We must forget about what happened tonight»
Olympiacos' coach, Giorgos Bartzokas, kept a low profile following the break at the OAKA.
"We now lead the series 1-0, but it's a best-of-five one, so, you realize that we need to forget about what happened tonight and prepare for the next game in our home court. We controlled the rhythm of the game throughout the forty minutes time with good defense and good offense. We had good balance inside and outside the post. We passed a lot. We beat a very hard to beat team, like Panathinaikos, especially when they play at home. The guys put up a serious effort tonight, we played compact basketball on both ends of the floor for yet one more time, resulting in the 1-0".
When asked to comment on the fact that the two top shooters of the team, Peters and Canaan, did not score double digits and if this is indicative of the 'red & whites' team game, he said: "This is what has been happening in the last three years. We have often played with major losses throughout the season. We have always counted on team game. There are always players we believe to have quality and a heigh ceiling. When we play together, this is the kind of basketball we represent, that the players are very important, the players are the ones to win the games. But they win, when they play together".
Finally, about whether Panathinaikos having won the European title, gave extra motivation to him and his players, he replied: "I cannot answer about each one of us analyzes facts and the situation. You could say that we are motivated to play against the team that won the European title and was the best one in the Final Four. Panathinaikos has been playing with lots of confidence, because they achieved a major goal of the season. Their home court tonight, the atmosphere, was what it was and the motivation is always very high when you aim to winning a title. These games are easy for coaches, in terms of not needing to push your players. They know the opponent; they are alert and they know that they have to lean on one another".