Bartzokas and Vezenkov talk about Dubai
Olympiacos prepares for its first European game of the season at SEF, against Dubai BC (10/10, 20:15 CET). The head coach of the Piraeus team, Giorgos Bartzokas, spoke during the Media Day about the opponent’s profile, the condition of his own team, and the injury problems they are facing. Thomas Walkup (hematoma in the right gluteus medius), Keenan Evans, and Shaquielle McKissic will not be available, while Evan Fournier is considered doubtful.
Speaking about the newly formed Dubai BC team, coach Bartzokas commented: "It’s a team with notable offensive talent but without the same level of defensive commitment. They are among the best in isolation plays - in one-on-one situations in a half-court setting - and they play a different style of basketball than we do. We must stay focused on our game plan and avoid getting dragged into their fast-paced rhythm. Our approach needs to include solid defense, control of the tempo, and precise execution on both ends of the floor. It’s a tough game, especially since it’s our first one at home."
Olympiacos will have to deal with several key absences ahead of the match.
The Greek coach explained: “Unfortunately, we have quite a few issues. Walkup has suffered a gluteal hematoma and will be out for 2–3 weeks. McKissic and Evans are also unavailable, while Fournier will try today, but it’s unlikely he’ll play. Donta Hall had a food poisoning episode but will be available. Overall, we’re dealing with significant shortages in our backcourt, and we’ll need to cover the gaps through team effort.”
Coach Bartzokas also highlighted the presence of Frank Ntilikina: “He’s far ahead of the average new player in terms of adjustment. He understands the game and is making a strong effort to quickly integrate into the team’s philosophy.”
Regarding the team’s overall image and the season's progression, the Olympiacos coach noted: “We’ll see inconsistency across all teams this year. The schedule is very demanding; we’re playing Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday. Fewer practices, more travel, less prep time. That means even for us, with new faces, there are defensive imbalances and some miscommunications. But this is also how we started last year. I believe we’ll soon be at a much better level.”
Vezenkov: "All teams have injuries, and we must keep moving forward"
On his part, Sasha Vezenkov commented on the team’s current state and the danger posed by the opponent.
He began by saying: “It’s still very early in the competition; this is a marathon. No team is 100% ready yet, but every win matters, gives confidence, and buys us time.
Dubai is dangerous because they play without pressure. They have talent, personality, and they started with a big win. With our fans by our side, we want to protect our home court at SEF and stick to our plan to win.”
On the team’s injury issues: “That’s the reason we have roster depth. We have players with quality and experience, and whoever is called upon will give 100%. There’s no time to look back or dwell on who’s missing; every team has injuries, and we have to keep moving forward.”
On tactics, chemistry, and roles: “It’s still early in the season. We haven’t fully found our chemistry and defined roles on the court yet. Our goal is to be solid, defend 100%, move the ball properly, and win. We move forward step by step, practice by practice, as cliché as it sounds, it’s the only way in a competition like the EuroLeague, which is a marathon.”