Bartzokas: «Our goal was to win without pushing ourselves or getting injured»
In the press conference following Olympiacos’ 100-81 away win over Maroussi, head coach Giorgos Bartzokas spoke about the early-afternoon scheduling of league games, the lineups he's tested in the opening matches, newly signed guard Frank Ntilikina, and the possibility of adding another guard to the roster.
His opening statement: "First of all, I have to say that the 1 PM tip-off time is fantastic. I think it’s ideal for families and children. A Sunday afternoon game; you can come to the arena, then go out for lunch, and still have time to watch more football or basketball matches later in the day. It’s the perfect time, and that’s why we choose to play at home at this time whenever possible. The atmosphere was great, the fans enjoyed it. Maroussi has clearly improved since last season; they have guards who understand and control the game, and the team is well-organized thanks to their coach. We had a heavy schedule - two games in Rhodes on Friday and Saturday, followed by a trip to Spain for two more high-intensity games. Our goal today was to win without pushing too hard or risking injuries. We achieved that, and we’re happy. Best of luck to Maroussi and good health to everyone."
On the pick-and-roll play & Donta Hall: “Last year, we were the team that ran the fewest pick-and-rolls in the EuroLeague, probably because we didn’t have the right handler and big man combination for that style. Still, our efficiency was excellent, and we had great offensive flow. Hall gives us that option now, but that doesn’t mean he must always finish from a central pick-and-roll. We have some new plays and actions that will take time to develop. Evans is capable in the pick-and-roll, and Ntilikina is a very high-quality addition; time will prove it. I’m very satisfied with our roster and we’ll try to maximize each player’s strengths.”
On Saben Lee’s role as a scorer: “The team always comes first. At the moment, Lee seems more comfortable playing alongside a point guard, rather than being the main one himself. But our needs are dictated by the roster. We didn’t have Evans available, and now Ntilikina is here. We’ll work on stabilizing our lineups. Our depth at the ‘2’ position is significant: Fournier, Dorsey, McKissic, Larentzakis, Detzipoglou, Ward (who can also play there), and Lee. So yes, it takes a little bit of "magic" to fit everyone in, but with so many games, someone’s always tired or unavailable. Everyone will be useful.”
On offensive balance: “I’m not concerned about who scores, as long as we play team basketball. If we do that, the points will come, whether spread out or from one or two players on any given night. I believe we had 25 assists today, if I’m not mistaken, which shows how well we moved the ball. The team’s depth is obvious; nearly everyone can score 20 points. Some players just need more time and familiarity. I’m very pleased.”
On using "big lineups": “It’s something we’re experimenting with. It’s similar to the lineup the Celtics used with Tatum and Brown; three forwards of equal height who can handle the ball, plus a rim-protecting big. It’s a tough lineup for opponents to deal with, especially teams with small guards like Baskonia or Maroussi. If we can match up defensively, this gives us a different offensive dimension.”
On signing another guard: “At this moment, there’s no reason to think about future additions. Ntilikina just arrived and has only had three practices. We want him to get into rhythm and then we’ll see what happens with Evans. The front office is always supportive; the Presidents and Mr. Skindilias often ask me if we need anything, and I’ll let them know if we do.”
On Frank Ntilikina’s debut: “I don’t like assigning readiness percentages. He told me after the game he’s still struggling with conditioning, meaning he finds it hard to play at full tempo for extended minutes. He’s barely played; just a few minutes in one friendly with Partizan. Meanwhile, the rest of the team already has 5-6 intense friendlies and two EuroLeague games under their belts. As he settles into the rhythm of training and games, he’ll be able to show what he can do more easily.”