What Bartzokas and Canaan said in view of the game against Baskonia
Following the big win over Real in Madrid, Olympiacos traveled to Vitoria, where tomorrow (21/10, 20.30 CET), will be playing against Baskonia, for the 4th Euroleague round.
“The beginning has really been very encouraging for our team. We have played in two tough home courts and won, which was not an easy thing to do for me. They were tricky games”, the ‘red and whites’ coach, Giorgos Bartzokas said. “From there on, just like I have said before, each Euroleague game is a different story. The game against Baskonia is completely different to the one against Real. It’s a totally different game plan that you have to follow, the things that you have to do on either end of the floor are also totally different. Baskonia is not invincible, but they are in good shape, they are a team that plays with confidence and it is certain that controlling the tempo in this this game and this court is always important”.
Asked about what his team needs to do to win one more big road game, he replied: “Apart from taking care of our defense, we have to be patient and careful with our offense. We have to somewhat slow down the tempo, avoiding hasty decisions. If we don’t have fast breaks under favorable circumstances, we have to be moving the ball right. To somewhat displace the defense to open up the tempo”.
Isaiah Canaan also addressed the game against the Basque team: “The coach will be giving us the plan of tomorrow’s game and we need to execute it. We have to continue following the coach’s plan, keep believing in one another and be as one. We definitely have chances at winning. We know we are going to be playing in a court that has a good atmosphere against a team that has been playing really well at this time. But, if we do what the coach will ask from us, we are going to make it”.
Asked if he feels that he has adjusted to the team being a newcomer, he said: “Right now, the most important thing is that we are winning games. I will keep trying to do what I’m capable of doing on the floor. I know that the whole team believes in me, the coach believes in me and I’ll do whatever it takes to win… If this is scoring or playing defense, it’s ok for me. I’ll do whatever I need to be doing for the team to win”.