Giorgos Bartzokas: «We are getting better every day»
Olympiacos will be hosting Alba Berlin tomorrow (12/11, 20.00 CET) at the SEF, that may be ranking bottom seeds at the moment, however, is still a very dangerous opponent.
The German team’s current record is 1-4, while they have two pending games to play, against Baskonia and Armani, that were postponed due to COVID. “They have played three games since. Just before the season started, we played two friendly games against Alba in Berlin and we have a general knowledge of what we should be expecting”, the ‘reds’ coach commented. “They are a team that plays up tempo for forty minutes, regardless of the game. They try to impose a style with quick offensive plays, scoring for every angle on the floor and mainly with long distance shooting. Obviously, if you fall into their trap and settle for this tempo, you can lose the game just like CSKA did in Moscow. That’s because you get to play a game you are not used to playing. It is you that needs to set the tempo and the game principles, otherwise you will get into trouble”.
Asked about whether Olympiacos’ game can improve even more, he replied: “We have a lot of room for improvement, because we have players that I feel are going to be getting a lot better within the season and this is going to carry the rest of the team’s function. We have been working at a good level. Harrison’s injury is a setback for us, but thankfully, we have 16 or 17 players here, including young ones that come from our developmental team. These kids not only don’t hold the practice back, but rather enhance it, because they play with great intensity. It’s a rare thing and I want to point it out. It’s very rate that the young guys on the team offer so much help into how we train. We have made some good practice sessions and I’m optimistic that we are going to be playing well. Of course, sometimes this has nothing to do with the outcome. The shape the game is going to take depends on too many things. I feel, however, that we are in a process of getting better each passing day”.
Finally, on whether Alba’s ranking can prove to be a trap for his players, he pointed out: “Absolutely. We have stressed that more than enough during our meetings. First of all, I think that there is no team with the Euroleague, even if at the bottom of the rank, that can win everywhere. We had the opportunity to play against them and we know how good a team they are. All the more, there are games that they’ve lost with a wide margin, however, last year they came here and beat us and I had been the coach, making some really difficult shots. They also beat CSKA on the road. They are a team that should you not control the tempo and don’t go to a certain number of possessions, you are definitely giving them the chance to shoot well. We still don’t know if Siva is playing, however, they have Granger and Lo and one more play-maker that to me is Sikma, despite him playing the ‘4’ position. He’s a player that facilitates a lot. They are a team different to all else and very hard to play against”.
«Sloukas makes it easy for us»
On his part, Charles Jenkins commented: “Alba is a very good team, much better than their record attests for. They have a group of players that have been playing together for some years now and they are a really tough team. I think that the most important thing for us is to play as good in defense, as we did in our last game”.
On whether good defense is going to be the key to the rest of the season, he said: “For sure. For me, who am a defense oriented player, Sloukas has been making it easy for us, because he can help us with our offense. He’s a very good transition players, he’s a very good passer and makes it easy for us. So, if we stop the opponent, we are going to have the opportunity to run. Sloukas runs with the ball, I think that he’s at his peak and is making everything easier for us”.
Finally, on whether the absence of Aaron Harrison, who is injured, is going to give him a more expanded role, he made clear that: “I don’t believe so. My role is more or less the same. Playing defense and opening up spaces or shooting when I get the chance. I think it’s an opportunity for other players to play more. For Papanikolaou, who is getting better with every game. I think he’s going to get more minutes and contribute in the game. We all know how well he can play. I also think it’s an opportunity for Larentzakis, who also deserves to be on the floor”.