Christos Bafes was hosted on EEC Web Radio and talked about many issues concerning his basketball department Olympiakou.
The Sports Director of the “red and white” referred to the competitive image of the club and the four consecutive victories in the Euroleague, the investments in logistical means made by the management, but also on the cooperation he has with the Giorgos Bartzokas, emphasizing how it is, “a pleasure to work with him every day”!
The statements of Christos Buffet in detail:
For the four consecutive victories in the Euroleague: “However early in the season it is, every win is important. In the past, Milan Tomic used to say something that we have kept and say as… a joke: “it is better to win than to lose”. So simply. You better enjoy the victory. Regardless of the opponent, the win is just as important, because at the end of the day what counts is the win and the sign you will have between wins and losses.”
For the victory over Villerban: “The Euroleague counts wins, not points. It was a very important victory. Equally important is the game against Maccabi. Every match is special and important, that’s what we try to tell the players. The Euroleague is a marathon. The difference that the Euroleague has in relation to the championships is that every match is important, for your entry into the play-offs.
It’s important to be in the best possible shape when you get to the play-offs, but you have to get there first. We knew that the team that it will not be good at the beginning with so many internationals and injury problems, but it is important that it reaches the victory, performing at times beautiful basketball. Not at the level the coach wants yet, mainly defensively, but everything is expected, it’s not something that surprises us.”
To manage wins and losses: “Management is the most important part when you do championships. How you handle winning and losing. Essentially, we knew that yesterday (12/11) the match would have ups and downs this image. How you can avoid the image is the point. It’s difficult, you try, but you can’t always succeed, because you’re dealing with the human factor.
We’ve been waiting for this whole image up and down. It is very important what the coach said, to win on your good nights. That’s why you must always be focused, close your ears. What we’re trying to do is close the doors here, those of us on the team deal with it.
We know what happens in our daily lives, of course not everything is perfect, not everything is as you want it to be, but when you are a “punch” you always find a way to cope and overcome any difficulties that come your way. There are too many difficulties in one year. The Euroleague season is exhausting for everyone.”
On the attacking talent of the team: “We cannot hide that the team is full of attacking talent. It’s a given. This does not mean that you will win everything with attack, you have to play defense as well. But let’s not forget that our tall players, who are still in the adjustment stage, play a big role in the way we defend. Fal is back after 5 months, Milutinov is back from injury.
All these are things that we know, we see, we work on, we search for. It’s not easy to work them when you have a streak of games. Today (11/13) we came to SEF to have some simple shots made. When you don’t have the time to train, it’s very difficult.”
For the services they provide to their athletes: “We are trying to take services to our players to an even greater level. Things are constantly happening on the field, which are not obvious. Things are being done in the locker room, investments are being made in machines, in venues. At the moment, inside the SEF locker room there is a cryo pool, a jacuzzi, and a sauna is being built.
The last investment made by the presidents was that a special anti-gravity corridor, of great value, which is the same for the wounded, was purchased for their rehabilitation. The injured person in this corridor can run while injured so that their physical condition is not lost. The man to launch it is Keenan Evans, who is at this stage.
The team and the presidents are constantly making investments that improve the daily life and conditions of the players, which is very important to us. The presidents always give you the space and create the best possible conditions for you to work.”
For the Panathinaikos-Olympiacos game in the Euroleague: “We have to deal, at least in terms of material, because the “mirror” of everything is the stadium, with two of the best Euroleague teams. We should enjoy the game. It is important, we all want to win, first of all us here, but the season is a marathon.
In OAKA, the 2nd half is one of the most beautiful games I’ve experienced in the 23 years I’ve been at Olympiakos, I’m talking like a game. It was an advertisement for basketball as a whole from both teams. Such was the quality of the players that two very good defenses were unable to cope. It is as if we are watching a Real-Barcelona, ​​a Manchester City-Liverpool match happen in football.
It is important to have conditions, because these games really are performances. In the end, of course, the goal is the titles and you have to reach them. However, we must enjoy these games and at the end of these games, we should only focus on basketball.”
About his collaboration with Giorgos Bartzokas: “He’s the easiest person to work with. It is a pleasure to work with him every day. He is very open to discussions and ideas and that definitely makes him special. He is a man who sits and discusses, searches, gives space to his colleagues, accepts opinions.
He is very knowledgeable and every conversation with him is important. We don’t just talk about basketball. The fun that happens at all levels on a daily basis is very important and is what creates this whole nice situation for us over here.”
Source: Sport Fm
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