Panagiotopoulos for Panathinaikos AKTOR-Olympiakos: “It will be a match that will be decided on rhythm”

THE Diamantis Panagiotopouloshis direct partner Xavi Pascual to Zenithosted at EOK WebRadio and analyzed this year’s image of both Panathinaikos AKTOR as well as his Olympiakou.

At the same time, she mentioned the derby between them on Monday (22/01) and her new transfer AEK, Austin Hollins.

In detail what he said:

For Panathinaikos: “He is very good, he is impressive defensively. The defensive commitment of kids, even from players who don’t have defensive appeal, is very interesting and it has to do with the will and how the organization works to achieve the goals. This defensive image is something that also appeals to the offensive part of the floor, where with the talent that exists and the situations that prevail, it produces a very nice result. Panathinaikos “paid” for the closure in some matches, because when you are a new team it is very difficult to find the roles immediately and easily and this cost absolutely normal. Now they are walking on a very different “path” and I believe they have evolved much faster.”

For Olympiakos: “Olympiacos is a very big club and organization, the coaching staff is of the highest level. In the previous 2 years he showed a different proposition, something he had been “building” for three years with this group of people. This year is a new team, new material, new effort. It is logical since two main pillars left to diversify the game and with the injuries that existed they had difficulties to find the roles for all the players. It was a difficult situation. What is important is that the team has kept its dna and creating the conditions to set the tone for the game from its strengths, that is the toughness and team approach to the game. Olympiacos remains tough and is always a very big organization that will find its way very quickly.”

For today’s (22/01) game between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos: “The pace will be very important. Always pace, mistakes and rebounds in a game are “A” and “O”. Panathinaikos will try to increase the pace, increase the pressure in the perimeter so that the ball does not easily enter the goal, increase possession. I imagine Olympiacos will try to slow down the pace of the match, to play more with their size. It will be a match that will be judged on the pace and how the possessions, rebounds and decisions of the guards will go on both sides of the floor.”

For their non-presence in European competitions: “Clearly there are differences. The training program does not differ, because the program in the VTB League has also changed, every three days you can have a game. The problem lies in the fact that certainly the organization tries to keep and maintain the ambitions and what it should have as an organization, but certainly the part of Europe is something that we cannot say that we do not miss. We all did everything to fill the roster with guys who have Euroleague experience. An effort is being made and I think we are at a good level in terms of the roster. All the teams have experienced and played guys, that’s why the league is very competitive and tough.”

About AEK’s new player, Austin Hollins: “Initially, coach Platha knows him very well because he was the one who brought him to Zenit. He has a lot of energy in his game, but being out also plays a role, in the games I saw him he seemed to lack freshness and explosiveness. AEK will take advantage of what he showed in Zalgiris. He is a very athletic player, he can push the ball a lot, he is a very good off-screen and spot-up shooter, he can open the court for AEK. He’ll be a very good addition to the AEK team, he’ll help out and essentially play as a 3rd guard I think based on everything I see.”