Sfairopoulos: «The most critical game for our course» (Video)
Olympiacos hosts Khimki on Friday (5/2, 21:45 LT) for a 6th round game of the Euroleague TOP61 and Giannis Sfairopoulos talked about the game against the Russian team.
The original statement by the coach: “We are playing a critical game, the most critical one for our European course up to now, against a very good team that has begun with four victories and one loss in the group up to now and that proves its quality. We are coming from three consecutive defeats and we want to go back to winning games. We have all realized that we cannot let any game pass by, not that we did something like that before, but the way the situation is at the moment, we need this victory and we are going to do anything to get it. We know that our opponent has quality and players that are able to “kill” any team in their good day, however, we have faith in our defense, in our team, in our game style and beginning tomorrow, I want us to fight, the players have understood that. They want to fight as well and get the result we need. In regard to the game, it’s important to control the rhythm. They are a very good offensive team, but they also have some good defensive characteristics, the press, the move the ball well, they run the open court following steals and blocks.
In general, they are a high level team. They have special potential, but we are also a team that knows how to win games like that. We are expecting our fans to be by our side, to support us with their voice and push us towards victory. I would also like to ask you not to write that we are signing players or that players are leaving the team because it’s not happening, we don’t want this kind of things being published. The team needs calm, we are only dealing with the competition aspect and we try to play the best we can. For me, it’s important to trust all my players, I trust their way of work and I trust our work as a team in total. All the players have been chosen to help the team reach its goals and that’s why I would like to ask you not to write that we are either signing or releasing players. Thank you”.
Asked about Khimiki and the fact that the 4-1 record allows them to play without stress in the Peace and Friendship Stadium, the Greek coach said: «When you play without pressure, then you see the bucket as if a barrel. Khimiki has former NBA players, they have very good offensive players and great scorers, we need to stay focused in our defensive plan so as to deprive them of offensive momentum that could allow them scoring long range shots, but also take away from them the open court and penetrating».
Asked how difficult it is to give different roles again and again following injuries and player changes, the Greek Champions coach said that «this is hard, we’ve been having a lot of injuries, the team needs time, not only the player that had been injured. It takes time to readjust roles, it’s certain that it cost us at this particular moment. Some have come back from injuries, some got injured and did not play for a long time, that’s why we need to have calm and all this transition within the team to take place in the smoothest way possible. We don’t want external factors influencing the team operation”.
On how much Daniel Hackett’s absence is going to be a factor: «Hackett will be trying today to practice. He has only practiced alone. Today he’s going to try and practice some with the team. If he doesn’t get to play, we have given Johnson-Odom minutes in the point position, we’ll see how Hackett is and hope we can help us. We don’t know that, but we are going to test that today and tomorrow at a relaxed practice”.
On whether he used a certain game in Tripolis that are going to be implemented when Papanikolaou is going to be eligible to play the Euroleague: «In Tripolis, with the use of Papanikolaou, we had one more player to incorporate in our roster, to the already existing quality players and our way of playing would be the same like in Tripolis, with a lot of energy. We added yet another big body that plays good in defense and on open court and in offense and we actually tried this way to cover for the void left by Young. I have said the same before, it’s difficult to find a good big player at this time. So, like I said before, stop writing that we are changing players, we need the team to finally have some calm”.
On Lojeski returning, the Greek coach said that «Lojeski, together with the Greek players that have been playing here for years, a part of Olympiacos’ base roster, maybe Hunter as well, but Lojeski for sure, being here for years. His absence had an impact, because he’s a quality player and can free up his team mates the way he plays. When you know there is a good shooter at the corner, you don’t easily let him be to go help with a second and third player in the post. Just like many teams play against us. So I believe that Lojeski’s absence was important and he’s return is going to help us a lot”.