Bartzokas: «We are at a good level for this time in the season»
The coach of Olympiacos, Giorgos Bartzokas, appeared to be satisfied by his players’ performance as well as by the atmosphere in the arena’s tribunes.
“We played a serious game for large parts of it, just like in the first one. We opened up the score from the start and were able to give minutes to everyone. In general, we are at a good level for this time in the season. Right after the final four, we get to play against serious teams, like Promitheas, that have quality talent. When we are compact in our defense, we are capable of opening up the game in the offense moving the ball really well. Tonight we have had 25 assists, 28-29 in the previous game. Overall, we play as a team and that’s really important at this particular time in the season. We have one more game on Saturday and we are going to be approaching it just like we always do, with the necessary seriousness. Congratulations to Promitheas once again. The last time we were here, but also tonight, the atmosphere in the tribunes, both with our fans but also those of Promitheas that love basketball, the atmosphere had been especially pleasant for everyone playing the game”.
On whether he thinks that such good performances and blown up differences can mess with his players’ minds in view of the finals, the said: “You can never know… But on the other hand, what are we supposed to be asking from them? To stop being good? When we came back from the final four, we experienced a major mental and physical drainage. It was obvious in the first game we played against Peristeri in our gym. But then, we made the reset we needed. Our players are professionals and they understand what their role is. That’s how we played in the games that followed… We played as a team. I think though, that our opponents don’t really believe they can win. In essence, they deal with the games in a procedural manner and we get the chance to open up the score. It’s not conclusive that what people witness means that this is actually our exact level. On the other hand, we are serious, we have been practicing seriously, we always scout and analyze the opponent with professionalism and seriousness. We don’t underestimate anyone and we want to finish the season the best way we can. That means winning the League title. We’ll see how we are going to be in the finals”.
Asked if he thinks that the simultaneous presence of the fans of two opposing teams is feasible at some point, even in the finals, he replied: “It’s going to be fantastic, if you want my opinion. There have been examples of that with basketball, but we also have the example with football. And that’s against this idea. I don’t want to be taking a position on things that are not under my purview, there is a notion with basketball that there is a kind of justice with the new order of Greek basketball. There is a calm and a belief that whatever it is anyone deserves on the floor, they are going to be getting it. That transpires in the tribunes as well. There are exceptions of course. In some arenas you get to hear a lot about your family lineage, but that’s how things are in Greece. I think there is an example to follow and one that counters it. What’s been happening here is very positive. There are also teams that have a lot of football fans, that drive things to the edge. Purely basketball teams are different… There was a good atmosphere in Larissa also and with Apollon Patras and where ever we’ve played outside the big metropolitan areas is like that. With our major competitors where there are their respective football teams as well, PAOK, Aris, AEK, Panathinaikos, things are on the edge and I don’t think they can change. But we can only hope…”