Bartzokas: «There are no easy games in the Euroleague» (vid)

“Euroleague is a marathon and you need to win games”, highlighted our coach, Giorgos Bartzokas, in his press availability after defeating Alba at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

“I can say many things for the game and at the same time, nothing. I would rather speak about the players and the approach we had today. At the same time we are very close to 1st place at the end of the first round of Euroleague, something very important given the many injuries we have had during this time, playing with one big man. Today we fell in the trap of assuming we would win the game, we were 10-11 points ahead and then stopped doing the simple things, like playing good defense, controlling the pace and limiting fast breaks. They scored five huge and difficult threes, some of which against good defense. They also went ahead towards the end. We wanted a few good plays, two baskets from Fournier, two rebounds by Vezenkov, a steal by Vildoza. We feel tired mostly from the pressure we had to win”, he stated initially.

“Once again I have to say this, and it’s becoming boring that I’m saying the same things, but there are no easy games in the Euroleague. Barcelona lost to Virtus, Zalgiris lost to Villeurbanne at home. I am trying to convince not only my players, but everyone, that Euroleague is a marathon and you must win games. From that point of view, we are happy. I am grateful for the fans that came to the second consecutive game, although we did not play against a big name, they filled the arena and supported us”, he added, closing with wishes of a speedy recovery for Panathinaikos’s Center Mathias Lessort.

“My best wishes to Lessort, I wish he returns stronger than before. Injuries are something that hurts as all in sports”, he added.

THE ENTIRE PRESS AVAILABILITY IN THE FOLLOWING VIDEO