Bartzokas: “I want to lower the tone, the team always plays to its limits”

Giorgos Bartzokas commented on the champion character that Olympiacos has shown in the series against Fener, speaking to the press representatives ahead of Game 4 of the quarter-finals of the Euroleague playoffs.

The coach of the “red and whites” referred to the way his team’s victory came and gave credit to the Turkish team for the way they played.

In detail, what he said:

For the development of the series with Fener“Usually when you lose like this it’s painful. Coaches and players have a lot of experience at this level, to spend a day getting back on the field and showing their best. Teams don’t have many chances to get this close to the final-4. I speak for them and for us. The motivation is great, the goal is very important for both teams. I’d like to lower the tone and expectations a bit. Our team has the whole year and now and in general it has reached its ceiling, it is constantly playing to its limits, it is not easy. Every win is important. We will prepare for the game tomorrow. I don’t know how it will weigh on us and them. I always think basketball gives what it needs to the teams that play with a knife in their teeth. And Fener, who had lost the first relatively easily, went to all phases and the basketball was rewarded. And we yesterday, when Fener took a two-point lead, we came back and took the lead. It takes persistence, faith in the plan and management of emotions. Many times we rushed yesterday. As many times as we have balance in defense, offensive rebound… The match will be very difficult, as it was yesterday. »

For the champion character of the team: “To give credit to the opponent as well, it was difficult to come back when he was four points behind, he has great skill and talent. A big shot by a big player turned us around, as it does in such cases. Any other approach we take now than to say how the opponent will present itself, basketball is unpredictable. We saw yesterday the ebb and flow of emotions and the score, it’s not easy for anyone.”

For the changes made: “Fener is risking some things with what they are doing. Adjustments are made. Yesterday we had a lot of open shots that we didn’t make. A little bit of the criticality of the match, a little bit of stress and anxiety that burdens the team that was first in the regular season, it is not easy to manage this, no matter how talented a team you have. Many teams have good players, good bench. We could have won more easily if we had put two shots, if we had not sold a ball. That’s basketball, that’s the beauty of it.”

For Slukas not hiding in the last ball: “It is very important for the coach to have it. We say there are tie-breaking coaches, because a player comes in, puts up 30 points, and you break the tie and take a share of the success. Yesterday the match was like that.”

For players who stay on the bench: “These are games that everyone wants in their career. After three days they will not remember who has played well, but which team will be in the Final-4 and which will not be. Nothing you’ve done all year counts. The coaches decide on the jobs of the players, on the contracts they give them. They consider it very important that a player sacrifices himself for the team, how much he does what he has to do. It’s not always about scoring, it can be about getting rebounds or making saves. This is the battle that coaches have with players in all teams.

In closing, I want to say goodbye to three of my former players. I am very sad. Duston was injured, Singleton had another health issue, Swedt… Good luck to all three, with the opportunities. It was a big blow to hear one after the other because I have a good relationship with all three. I hope he is fine”.