Sfairopoulos: «We'll bleed for the victory»
Practice tonight (19/04), in view of tomorrow's (20/04, 20.15 CET) critical 2nd game against Zalgiris for the Euroleague playoffs, was held in the presence of the Olympiacos BC President Mr. Panagiotis Angelopoulos and the Vice President Mr. Giorgos Skindilias.
Giannis Sfairopoulos will be deprived of the services of Nikola Milutinov and Giorgos Bogris. The Serbian center was injured during last night's game and today underwent an MRI on his right knee, that determines he will be inactive for about ten days. As for Giorgos Bogris, who also underwent an MRI of his right knee, he has suffered a rupture of the inner meniscus disc and will have to undergo arthroscopic surgery, which will allow him to return in about one month.
Kostas Papanikolaou and Janis Strelnieks are also doubtful for the game.
«We'll bleed»
However, despite the many problems, Giannis Sfairopoulos signaled the counter attack… "We want to be more determined. Correct the mistakes that we made on both ends of the floor. It was a game that was decided by details. There aren't many things we need to change. We just need to be more determined and focused. There were moments in the game that we did not do what we had to do on both ends of the floor. The first thing is to bring needed determination on the floor to win tomorrow's game. That's what we are focusing on right now and then what follows. The most important thing for us is tomorrow's game".
Asked on whether some players will be able to engage with the game better, he replied: "I don't like making a division between the Greek and the foreign players. They all matter the same to us. I don't separate them at all. They are all respected and valued. Now, it's true that some players have never played such games in the past and they certainly need some more time to understand the spirit of these games. But we don't have the time now. It is only certain that they need to be more active and do what needs to be done".
On the injured players: "When you play a playoff series, the first game is the toughest for the host. The injuries are a fact, but I don't like seeking excuses. I believe in our team. We are going to fight and do what we need to do to win the second game. No one on the team is willing to risk the health of any one player. We don't want to use anyone that is not 100% ready at any cost, although everyone wants to play tomorrow. Even Milutinov that has a swollen knee has told us he wants to play. We need to give him credit for that, just like to Bogris, who also has a problem and wants to play. Papanikolaou want to play, Strelnieks want to play… They all do… We'll see, but we are not going to be risking with any one, because you cannot have injured players playing. It's not good for the player who can suffer a more severe damage and he's also not ready to play and he may be hurting the team".
When he was told that Olympiacos is better with his back against the wall, and if this gives him confidence, he replied: "I never had a confidence problem to need it boosted now… I think that we have the experience, we have done it before and we know that we can do it again. To do it though, we need to show a different face. More combative, with greater energy, passion and better team game. Because there were moments in the first game that we did no play as a team on both ends of the floor".
Asked to comment about the officiating, he stressed that: "Seeing the game on video, I totally stand by what I said last night. I'm now certain that I was absolutely right about what I said. Our players should not be carried away by the calls, because if they do, they are going to lose focus. We need to mind our own business. It's another thing to play the game on the floor and another one outside of it. We can do nothing more than fighting in the gym. That's what we are going to do".
On the organized fans initiative to come to the locker rooms after the defeat and express their faith in him and the players, he commented: "We thank them very much for supporting us. It was indeed a tough loss for us last night. We thank them for their support. We are going to do all we can. We'll bleed to win the game. This proves that we are all together. When we are together, we don't need to be afraid of anyone".
«I'm ready to play as a center»!
Kim Tillie was ready is ready for everything and above all, ready to win. "We lost a closed game last night and we are a little disappointed. But now we are ready for a new battle. We need to remain focused. Now that we lost home court we need to win tomorrow and get one more victory in Lithuania. That's what we need to do. That's why we are here. We are going to give it all to win tomorrow".
Asked on his condition (given that he played the first game following an injury), he replied: "I feel well. I played yesterday, I gave 100%, I feel better today and tomorrow I'll be even better".
Today's video analysis, which lasted more than usual, was of great teaching value according to the French. "We saw many parts of the game. Many adjustments. Team defense is very important. We need to help one another on the floor, because they have many particular players. We need to be more focused. If we play good defense, we need to get the rebounds and run. We were kind of slow yesterday. We need to run, be more aggressive and play with more energy".
Asked about how many games he thinks it's going to take for Olympiacos to beat Zalgiris to which they have lost three times in three games, he replied: "I don't know, we take one game at a time. We lost two games at the overtime and this proves we were very close. Each small detail counts. So we need to be focused for forty minutes. Even mistakes early in the game count. Everything is important. So we need to remain focused throughout".
He plays the '4' position, but due to special circumstances, Tillie is ready to cop with playing the '5' as well! "We were unfortunate and we have injured players. But I'm ready to play the center position. I have done this in the past. I and Giorgos can alternate with the '5' position. So I'm ready to help there".
On his part, Kyle Wiltjer stressed: "It is obviously a very tough loss. We have seen a lot of video today, we learned from our mistakes and now we need to focus on the next game and play as good as we can to win".
On whether it is easy or difficult for him to play tomorrow (20/04), given that he did not play at all during the first game, he commented: "It's not at all difficult. We have been working hard every day. I come to the gym in addition to practice to practice my shooting on my own. I don't know if I get to play tomorrow or not. But if I do, I'll play hard and do the best I can to win".
Finally, he expressed his faith in overturning the series: "Of course we can. We have a lot of confidence in our team, despite the loss in the first game. We need to believe, be positive and play hard".