Larentzakis on sport-fm.gr: “And Olympiacos didn’t have the most talent, but they achieved a lot”

THE Giannoulis Larentzakis knows that this year’s version of it National basketball he does not have the same talent and experience as in previous years, however he believes that o Olympic of the last two years is a bright example of how a good team can exceed the cumulative talent of the players that make it up.

The 29-year-old guard spoke to sport-fm.gr for tonight’s big friendly in Abu Dhabi against the USA, for his challenge World Cupbut also for her great move by Kostas Papanikolaou to integrate into the group even though his second daughter was born just the day before yesterday.

The interview with Christos Robolis in detail

-You have been in the national team for several years, you have several competitions to your credit, so I want you to tell me how you see the team with your experience, just a few days before the World Cup starts.

“We are fine, it is very positive that we are healthy and working well. As time goes by and we have better contact with each other we will get better. We definitely want a lot of work, we know that we don’t have as much talent as other years or other teams, but we have soul and we will go with all our strength to achieve the best possible».

– Now you are third in participations in this National team. Has your role changed in any way?

“I wouldn’t say it has a different role because now I’m considered one of the old ones. I remain the same, I definitely want to help the younger kids as much as I can, but what I know and have been trying to do for so many years, I’m doing this summer as well. All the boys, however, have experience, quality and character to handle all this World Cup pressure».

-Finally, what is missing most from the National team? And I am not referring to persons, because this conversation is exhausted and “tired”…

“What is missing the most, I think, is the one-on-one game, which has proven how important or even decisive it is in world basketball in recent years. But also from my personal experience at Olympiakos, I think that a good team can cover this lack. We at Olympiakos also did not have the most individual talent than several teams in the Euroleague, but through teamwork we covered this shortcoming and achieved a lot in the last two seasons. But of course, the personal phase is also needed, when the system will not work out for you as it should».

– Will the game against the USA safely show where we are almost a week before the World Cup?

“Certainly, it will be a useful test and a very difficult one of course. The US national teams have a lot of talent, they have endless solutions even if the absolute top names in the NBA don’t come. We know them well, they play very fast and have tremendous athleticism. We will have to limit the rushing attacks and the mistakes that will allow them to score. These two friendlies, with the Americans and Germany are certainly very useful. We all want wins, even in friendlies, but at this stage it is important to see where we are hurting to fix it while we have time until the official matches».

– I couldn’t help but ask you about Kostas Papanikolaou. How much does it mean to you, the rest of the team, that he is close to you even though his second daughter was just born on Wednesday?

“First of all, let’s wish him the best for his little one and his family. Kostas in general is an example to follow. He is a child who, in addition to his great competitive value and usefulness in every team, possesses seriousness, experience and it is great, really, that he is coming to the National Team while his wife has just given birth. These moments are above everything, above any struggle. But when your leader makes such a sacrifice, then all the rest of us can’t help but give it our all».

-Finally, what can we expect from the World Cup? What do you personally expect from the team in Manila?

“The main thing is that we all have health and stand decently in the World Cup. From then on, whatever is meant to be, will be. What is certain is that we will fight and we will be satisfied if we have given everything, regardless of the result. We cannot set a specific goal, because we are also now exploring our possibilities as a whole. It’s not like the previous years when we knew more or less the dynamics of the team, while the World Cup is also a very strange event, where a very good performance and victory can take you to the top, or you can lose a match you didn’t expect and destroy the your effort. Be sure, however, that we are all working very hard and will give everything we have and don’t have. Nothing less».