Sfairopoulos: "Respect but without any fear"
Olympiacos' coach, Giannis Sfairopoulos, gave a Press Conference in view of the game against Real Madrid (08/12, 20.00 CET), for the 11th day of the Euroleague.
"It's going to be a tough game. Real Madrid is a very good team. Let's not get fooled, Real no matter how many players they are missing, they are a favorite to make the Final Four. They have players that can cover for any gaps and our mission is not going to be easy. We are going to need to be very focused, play strong and stick to our plan".
He also did not omit referring to the 'reds' sixth player. "The fans will be packing the gym and it's important for the team to have support. The fans are going to offer extra boost to our players to give their best".
On whether the return of Vasilis Spanoulis is going to be bringing changes to the game plan, he answered: "Not many things are going to change. The team has a play style that relies on team work on both ends of the floor, with the sole purpose of winning. All players are incorporated in this system and whoever is coming back, whether it's Spanoulis or Tillie, they are able to immediately get incorporated in the team. We are not changing anything; we simply have our leader with us, so that we have all our weapons ready".
Asked about the important of the result, he said: "You are talking about qualifying and getting home court advantage and I don't like it. It's not the time to be talking about that. Each game is different. What I know is that we are going to do whatever we can to beat Real Madrid. The rest is very far away. We are not looking that far away".
When asked to decide who the favorite is for tomorrow's game, he stressed: "Olympiacos fights to win every game. How can I however say that we are the favorite to win, when we lost here last season? Yes, we want to win. But I don't know who the favorite is. Two very good Euroleague teams are going to face off, teams with a tradition. There is no reason to say who the favorite is. It would be reckless. We have our chances and we are in good shape. We respect Real, but we are not afraid. We'll be fighting with all we've got".
When asked to comment about how he plans to cope with Doncic and Tavares, he said: "So you mean you don't think Rudy is an issue? He cannot win a team by himself??? Carroll cannot make all his shots?? Reyes is not experienced enough to cause us problems??? Isn't Maciulis an experienced and quality player? Yes, Real may be missing players, but they have the quality to play and win high level games. No one should be forgetting that. Of course Doncic has a leading role now that Llull is injured. Of course the game runs through his hands… But Campazzo is also dangerous. So we need to face them as a team and not as individuals. They have quality, they have players that can win home and road games under very tough circumstances".
Finally, on whether he enjoyed the victory against Valencia the most, given the fact that his plans were overturned just before the jump ball, due to Spanoulis' inability to play, he replied: "I didn't enjoy it more than other victories. We simply had the correct reflexes and were able to immediately adjust to the new circumstances. However, I have completely forgotten about this game. All of our attention and effort goes to tomorrow's game. We have a good background built from games that the players have won with their own personal effort. However, not matter what happens, we need to remain focused for the following game, without feeling either joy or sadness. We need to operate on logic and not on emotion, so as to do our job right".
«We don't want another loss at the SEF»
Kostas Papanikolaou stressed: "Each year, the games are very tough against such teams, regardless of whether they are played at home or on the road or of injuries. We are also a team that has suffered a lot of injuries and this experience has made us stronger. Real is a team that hasn't had good results and they have the opportunity to make a new beginning against a team of the same caliber, and this option gives them both confidence and motivation. It immediately makes the game tougher, more demanding and it will take even better concentration from everyone".
He then stressed the importance of not losing any more games at the SEF: "Real has been making a steady course throughout recent years. They are a team that has been making the Final Four, following good and steady courses. What we need to do tomorrow is protect our home court. We have already lost here once. We don't want another one. I think this is the most important thing in this marathon of games we get to play. Everyone knows that if you lose at home, you need to win two games on the road to break even. So concentration is a must. Tomorrow's game is very difficult. They are a classic Spanish team, they like to run, to have many possessions, to shoot at will. They are a special team, just like all these special type teams that takes a lot of focus to beat".
About the absence, as well as the return of Vasilis Spanoulis, he said: "Truth is that the team has shown amazing character during all of these games Vasilis had not been with us. Now that he's back it will definitely help a lot of guys relieve some of the burden they had been carrying all that time, since Vasilis will be taking initiatives to give the team what he knows how to give better than anyone else. This doesn't mean that the next games are going to be easier. On the contrary, we are going to need to be even more focused to do our share of the job correctly".
Asked about the Doncic phenomenon, on whether he's ready to stop him, he said: "We are talking about a miracle kid. What he has accomplished and all that he has been doing during the last year and a half our out of this world. From there on however, I try to do what my team asks me to. Some times you succeed and some not. It's very tough to guard quality players that are quick, they are technical and they are aggressive by nature. I try find their weak spots at every game and do the best I can".
Finally, on whether he has been pondering how the team would be doing should it be able to play at full capacity, he replied: "Let's hope that we'll see that soon enough. Unfortunately, it will take Kim a little more time, but let's hope that time will help us come back healthy and give our best when it counts, that is after the new year".
"Life is good with Spanoulis"
Hollis Thompson said in regard to the game against the Spanish team: "We expect them to come and play hard. So we need to play even harder to win". Asked about which team he thinks is the favorite, he answered: "We are going to win. We are the favorite. Is it a trick question?" On the return of the captain, he pointed out: "Life with Spanoulis is good! It's easier for everyone". As for the absence of Agravanis and the doubtful participation for Papapetrou, he commented: "We need to find the way to all give something more. We expect them back with us the soonest possible".