Sfairopoulos: «They know us and we know them»

Olympiacos is hosting Laboral Kutxa on Friday (4/3, 20.45 CET) and Giannis Sfairopoulos talked about the game against the Basques.

The coach's starting statement: "Tomorrow we begin our effort to recover. We begin an effort with crucial games ahead. We play against a team that we have already played another three games against, we know them and they know us. The key is to come to the floor determined, very focused, impose the rhythm, impose our game and do what we have practiced lately. Without underestimating the opponent's dynamic, what we need is to come to the floor according to our plan. I have told my player as such, we have worked on some weaknesses that we have pinpointed lately and I believe we can perform better. It's for certain that the game is critical, that's why I expect from all of us to give our best. We hope that our fans come to the gym tomorrow and 'push' us to get the result we want".

Asked what he expects the fans reaction is going to be, Giannis Sfairopoulos said that «for sure, mental readiness is crucial at moments like that. I think that determination and focus during a good or bad momentum in the game will keep us within our plan. The fans know that our effort is great, they have proved so in the past, when we play well they support us and they do so even if we don't do so, something that is very important for the team to be able and get back on track during the same game".

Questions about the statements recently made in regard to the defensive game of Olympiacos by members of opponent teams, the 48year old coach said that «it's true that lately, some coaches, members of club administrations or even players make statements on how we defend. It only remains for the gym staff to comment on our defense. Olympiacos always plays defense within the sporting spirit, basketball is a contact sport and our team likes to play with contact and whoever doesn't like that kind of game complains and sulks. We never talk about the refs, but we don't want to do that, we have only talked after the game in Moscow against CSKA, but before that game, for example the game at home against Bamberg, I don't know if you are aware of that, but the ref of that game was did not play for the next three games as a penalty for his officiating against Olympiacos. I don't know if you know this. However, we did not make any comment about it. In Kaunas, in the first minute of the game, our opponent got to shoot six free throws. We still did not comment on that. We don't want all these to influence the refs' judgment. Because we see that the refs do get influenced at the end. This is manipulation of the officials that's been happening before each game and it's a very bad thing for the Euroleague. Because Mr. Bertomeu himself had asked for a coaches' meeting and had requested no comments to be made on the officiating. I, being the coach of Olympiacos, have respected that, up until the game in Moscow. From that point on, I had to also react, because I see that unfortunately, instead for everyone to respect what we had agreed in the summer, but nevertheless some of us did not abide by that. This is what I have to say on the officiating, hoping that it is not influenced by all these statements».

Giannis Sfairopoulos answered on whether the three previous games are going to be a guide for his team «Of course the first round game has a lot of elements that show us how to deal with Laboral Kutxa. However, each game is different. You can use some tactical elements though since the teams are approximately the same».

The possible absence of Giannis Bourousis and the debut of Hakim Warrick are the things he was asked then to comment on «Bourousis is a 'key' player for Laboral, he is certainly a player that makes a difference in many games, we are ready though, despite of Bourousis playing or not, to face Laboral. We know how they play, this is the fourth time we are going to be playing them, we know their potential and despite Bourousis presence, we'll do what we need to do. Warrick is getting adjusted already. He certainly needs some time, he's only with us for 3-4 days. He's going to be on the team tomorrow even for a few minutes and he will give us a few solutions for sure".

Asked whether, had Warrick come earlier, the team image could have changed; he said that «the question is pointless. Of course it would have been better to have had him earlier on, but we tried to come up with the best possible choice and this was made at the last moment. So, there was nothing else we could have done".

Finally, Giannis Sfairopoulos was asked on why his team is losing big on the road «Differences get diminished because the team has changed its chemistry many times within the season and the main problem is this. For instance, Lojeski, a key player for the team, he was out for a month due to injury, suffered a relapse, stayed out for one more month and the team was playing without Lojeski for two months. Then Lojeski comes back, but when a player comes into the team, the balance shifts, even if the player is an old team member. Sean James joins us, then balance shifts once again. He leaves, balance changes again. Then Johnson-Odom comes in, for him to get incorporated in the rotation and the chemistry, the roles are messed up again. Then comes Papanikolaou, till he adjusts to the team, the team to get to know him and everyone to find a new role, it takes time. Now comes Warrick, it's going to be the same, then Lojeski will be coming back. I mean that due to injuries and the new players that are coming in, who we definitely wanted to come, we had come to a point that we had to play with 11 players, we did not have 12 players at the time of the first game against Laboral. So, these players had to come and I thank the administration for signing them. From that point on, however, each coming and going changes the roles and chemistry within the team. This is the reason that in some crucial points in the game, when we seem to let the game slip away, we don't have the consistency needed to play together and instead of the game to come back from -5 to +5 we see the game go to -10. Because all the roles and the chemistry and our style of playing has changed many times. This is the reasons we have all these ups and downs. Because it's only logical, when you remove and add players during the season, when there is not a smooth course, from the pre-season, when everyone play together and we win or lose but we understand why this is happening. When players come and go the chemistry of the team gets messed up. To continue on the same subject and resonate, in the first part of the competition, despite absences and many injuries, the team was winning games because there were distinct roles. Not that there are no roles now, it's just that combinations and rotations have changed. Who plays with who, who fits with who, this is something that a team with new players on board still tries to figure out. That's why many times in the game, when something doesn't work, the team cannot react. We cannot react because we still haven't learned how to play with the new players and how to react".