THE Panathinaikos AKTOR welcomes Fenerbahce tomorrow at the packed OAKA (02/09, 21:15) for the 26th matchday of the Euroleague, in a crucial game for the “greens”, in terms of the goal of the top 4.
The “clover” coach, Ergin Ataman, he spoke about the importance of the match with the Turks, about the extraordinary questionable participation of Kostas Sloukas in the game, but also for the recent defeat by Aris, stressing that with such a demanding calendar, the “geles” in the domestic championships are partly normal.
Ergin Ataman’s statements in detail:
On the loss to Aris and his team’s reaction: “There is no Euroleague team that has not lost even one match in their league. A defeat in the league is normal, especially after the “devil weeks”. We played without Lessor, Hernangometh and Papapetrou, Sloukas had an injury. It doesn’t compare to each other. The important thing is that we are in the last nine matches of the Euroleague and we want to get a good position in the standings. The ranking is clear. We are in the same situation as Fenerbahce. We lost three months ago in the first match. We were another team, just like they were another team. They changed their coach and some players. Tomorrow will be a new match. We have to play our basketball. Fenerbahce is a good team. But we have to be ready at home, as we were in almost all Euroleague matches.”
For his plan ahead of the game against Fenerbahce and the sold out: “Our last games at OAKA are sold out. The world knows the importance of the match against Fenerbahce for the ranking. We have two different groups. Fenerbahce has a new coach, new system, new players. They changed the roles of their players. We also have new players in relation to the First Round match, such as Kendrick Nunn and Dino Mitoglou who had not played in that match. It will be something different. Both teams will show character to win.”
For the points to focus on: “Our plan does not change depending on the opponent. We play at home. So far in the home matches we have a good defense and a smart attack. We move the ball well. Of course, tomorrow it will be very difficult to use Sluka, as I understand. We have to find a good rotation and certainly good percentages in the attack.”
For his team’s fatigue: “Everyone is tired, there are many matches in the Euroleague. You come back from a trip and immediately play for the championship. Especially when you have injured players, healthy players play more minutes and get tired more. This is the reality at this time. Some of our players are getting a lot of minutes like Grant and Grigonis or Nunn, because Vildoza was injured for three weeks. Now for the last three weeks Slukas has been injured. So, the rest take many minutes. This is the reality. We are tired, but tomorrow I am sure that everyone will “fight”. Of course, the atmosphere will also help us. I expect great atmosphere. All of Europe will see what the atmosphere is like in OAKA, so that we can get the victory”.
On Euroleague coaches’ complaints about the “heavy” schedule: “This is not something we should discuss now. I don’t think there are too many Euroleague matches. I believe that the schedule becomes very difficult if we include both the Euroleague matches and those of the national championships. The Euroleague wants more games, because that means more revenue. All this has to do with finances. Players and managers are getting paid a lot and the teams are in a difficult position. They want more revenue from tickets, from TV rights and they need more matches. We have to see the schedule for the Euroleague, the league and the national teams. Now many players will go to the nationals. Don’t forget we are human. It’s a very difficult situation, there are many injuries in all teams.”
On the fact that the national teams will compete in the February “window” with Euroleague players and if this is the first step for an agreement between the top European competition and FIBA: “I believe that the Euroleague, FIBA ​​and the domestic leagues must find real solutions. These are not good solutions. Of course, Euroleague players have to play in the nationals. The same applies to players from the NBA. Why should it only apply to Euroleague athletes? FIBA must schedule its games at times when all players will be available. For example, in the Turkish national team I have five NBA players and I cannot use them in the qualifiers. Maybe our qualification will be difficult. If I had all these players, Turkey would be one of the best teams. All this causes “damage” to basketball.”
Source: Sport Fm
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