Ataman: “Our defense is poor – Grigonis like… Simon, one of the best forwards in Europe”

In the defense played by Panathinaikos AKTOR – which he described as bad – in the match with Zalgirisstood the Ergin Ataman after the defeat (80-68) of his team.

The “clover” technician praised him Marius Grigonis, pointing out that we are now seeing one of the best forwards in Europe, as he has been in the past. He explained, however, how by changing his role and placing him in the three-point – noting that in the past he had acted accordingly in Ephesus with Simon– came the change in his image.

In detail, Ergin Ataman spoke at the press conference about:

-the match: “Zalgiris deserved to win the game. It is in very good momentum. Our defense was not good, especially Evans played a perfect game, perfectly organized. Our defense, especially in the low post against Ulanovas and Schmitz was poor.

We didn’t play with contact with Hernangomet, who made a lot of mistakes and Mitoglou, who was not good in the second half and didn’t respond to the toughness, with anyone. With this defense it is very difficult to win away from home. We managed to stay in the match until the last three minutes, but we couldn’t do anything else. Congratulations to Zalgiris because they played hard, wanted the game and held on for the win».

-Evans’ branding: “Evans is a player of many abilities. Biroutis was also good today and Dimsa also did damage with his cuts and the second attacks he gave. He plays a few minutes, but he is important. Congratulations to Trinchieri, who has done a job. On this pitch, with this energy it’s hard to get through here».

– the fact that he kept Grigonis in the team in the summer: “Grigonis is an excellent player. I saw some of his games last year and I saw that if I change the way I play and put him on the three point, like I did in previous years with Simon, he will respond well. And he is already one of the key players and I am very happy because he is an excellent kid.

Grigonis has quality. He can score, he can shoot the three-pointer. Today he was one of our best defenders against Ulanovas. He wasn’t good in the previous two years, but now we see the player who was one of the best forwards in Europe».