Itoudis: “Olympiakos’ games with Barcelona are open, Panathinaikos’ series with Maccabi is very physical”

In his air EEC WebRadio was hosted by Dimitris Itoudisanalyzing the series of Playoffs of the EuroLeague.

The Greek coach analyzed because Panathinaikos AKTOR has an advantage against Maccabi Tel Aviv, while he emphasized that Olympiakos’ games against Barcelona are very open.

Dimitris Itoudis stated in detail:

For Olympiakos’ series with Barcelona (1-1): “We saw two different games, which is to be expected. Olympiacos was more decisive in the first match, in general in the way it made its fouls, its spins, its shots, but the opposite happened in the second. Yes, Barcelona was more accurate and made big shots, but even starting with three foul baskets and in the fouls was a little more relaxed in the way Olympiacos did them, there Barcelona had the upper hand.

Olympiacos brings the series to Piraeus, knowing the danger that Barcelona can pose to it. The games are open, I can’t make any predictions».

For Panathinaikos’ series with Maccabi Tel Aviv (1-1): “This series is very physical, because both teams are physical. This series has more contact and is more difficult for referee decisions. I think that Panathinaikos has an advantage. Baldwin is a question mark, even if he plays he won’t be as “explosive”. Because Maccabi is used to being a team that passes a lot through the hands of him and Lorenzo Brown, the rest put up points from the offensive rebound. They’re constantly on the offensive rebound and they don’t do it like… a chore.

This has been Maccabi’s “identity” all along. Panathinaikos has the ability to put more… headaches on the opponent with its long shot, with the creation of Kostas Sloukas, where Maccabi has not found solutions on this. Everything can happen in the play-offs, but Panathinaikos has the experience to manage this».

About Maccabi not playing at their natural home: “If we ask the athletes, I think they will say that it would be better if the stadiums were full. It’s strange to play in an empty stadium. Yes, you train in an empty stadium, but it’s completely different from the games. Maccabi might have a great atmosphere in their stadium, but on the other hand, the stand can’t cause you any problem to play defense, can it?

The stand always gives something extra to the home team, but at the same time the opposing team would rather play in a full stadium than an empty one. That is why there is huge interest in the Euroleague and the play-offs».

For Fenerbahce’s series with Monaco (1-1): “They are an effective pair, more constructive and offer baskets. Defenses are in the second part of the build-up, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t prepared well or don’t have good defenders. Fenerbahçe have managed to get Mike James out of his attacking streak, Hayes-Davies is on top of him at the end. Monaco try to get Hayes-Davies off him by bringing on another defender, but to no avail. In this pair we have a higher production of baskets».

For Real Madrid’s series against Baskonia (2-0): “Real has made it 2-0 and actually showed on the field that they are better. This does not mean that Baskonia will go to play a procedural match. The Spanish teams, however, know each other very well, Real having played at Baskonia’s home several times. In terms of basketball, Real has a lead and it will be easy or difficult to be in the Final-4».

For the addition of play-ins in this year’s Euroleague: “In an event that we all want to evolve and become even better and more competitive, we tried to express our opinion and at the same time let the athletes be heard. They play the games. It is good that the coaches’ suggestion was listened to. We are in the play-offs and traditional teams, such as Partizan, Armani, were out of the play-in. The league is so competitive and you can’t cancel teams’ schedules while the number of them increases.

Two more teams were added to the EuroLeague and we were down to the last eight and that wasn’t fair. It loses a bit of interest there and the play-in showed that. I think we are very mature as a basketball community to accept some major changes that will bring basketball to another level, very high, that will make it even more competitive».

For Peristeri’s qualification to the BCL Final-4: “Congratulations to Peristeri, to all managers, players, Vassilis Spanoulis and his associates. It is very important that he was in the Final-4. Málaga showed a consistency in both the Spanish league and the BCL, as did Tenerife.

We had the presence of 3 Spanish teams in the Final-4 and that says something, as well as the fact that there was a French final in the EuroCup. I don’t have a competitive opinion, because I didn’t watch the matches, but they deserve congratulations for this effort by Peristeri».

For the International Seminar in Glyfada (June 20-23): “As the president of the Euroleague Coaches Association, we decided this year with Yannis Sfairopoulos, who is the vice president, and others, to bring the Seminar to Greece, specifically to Athens. Our country has two teams in the Euroleague, it is an international destination, direct flights. We already have a great response. Our companions in this will be the SEPC.

It’s an invitation not only to coaches who will come and take or reject ideas, but also to non-basketball people. We thank the municipality of Glyfada for giving us its stadium».