Olympiacos struggled before finally getting the win with 106-94 on Amarousiou at SEF for the 11th matchday of the Stoiximan GBL.
After the end of the match and during the press conference, Mr George Bartzokas he stated that he was not as pleased with the game as the people, who were in the stands, since they want to see their team even better, praised Amarousiou, while he also mentioned the acquisition of Mensah.
In detail what the coach of Olympiakos said:
“Let’s give congratulations to Maroussiwho performed very well and shows that he has found a way to attack consistently. In such a match the percentages they had in the three-pointer, because they finished with 56%, missing some shots that had no value at the end – we had counted at some stage in the fourth period, that they had 7/8 and a foul goal – they shot with great confidence , because there was no need for Maroussi. They had good creation and speed.
For us it was the 5th game in 10 days. We face a situation with fatigue, with a lack of energy, maybe even with a lack of concentration on what we have to do. I remind you that we played on Friday night and now it is Sunday noon. We didn’t even have 48 hours to prepare. So some players who play a lot were not fresh, unlike some who did not have that much playing time and gave us quality and speed. For the people who came here on Sunday afternoon, a big thank youbecause there were many, many families and I think they enjoyed the game, not as much as I did.
The coach always has the responsibility. Here they were 5,000 happy fans, happy players and a half-mad on the bench, which looks picturesque. If you ask me, I prefer to play to the standards we have. If you are asking about noon, I totally agree. It’s a great time. And in Spain when I was there the games were also at 12:00, not only at 14:00, for the children who have school the next day.
If you saw the game as a spectacle, I’m glad. Maroussi also helped in this. Offensively we have the talent, we scored 106 points without Fournier playing at all or without Vezenkov playing that much. It is a given that we can score. Right now, though, we have to have consistency on both sides of the pitch. And of course what needs to be done for our team will be done and we will play with players who are more ready, at least mentally. Really though, it was a nice match and I agree with you.
I haven’t done an analysis for 2024. Every year for all of us is important, it adds experiences, good and bad moments. I never personalize press conferences and speak in the first plural, because I represent our team. It doesn’t matter what I’ve learned. I am called to guide the team to do the best they can. The only thing that makes me happy is for the team to have wins, successes and progress.
I expect us to play better, to become more solid. On the other hand, I cannot complain, because if you look at the standings, we are where we are in the Euroleague and in the championship with one management we win the matches, except for the one with Panathinaikos here. However, we’ve had a lot of injuries in that time and if there’s one thing I wish for, it’s that to be healthy. Because if we are healthy, we will also be compact. Which for me is the most important.
These matches help a lot. Today, speed and intensity were required. Although it was a match where everyone had open shots. If we are talking purely about energy, it took whoever played to run up and down the court, to make lateral movements. It definitely helps. I don’t want to be tedious about it, but EuroLeague teams struggle a lot in domestic leagues. I read now that Baskonia suffered their 7th defeat in 12 matches. The travel, the intensity of the games. It is also the quality, but it remains a team outside the playoffs in Spain. The influence of Euroleague games is great. Baskonia beat Maccabi away and lost very easily to Panathinaikos. When you lose 30 points you have a crisis of confidence in how you play. Baskonia has good players and, in my opinion, a big name and a very good coach. So I say that in all groups this happens.
The EuroLeague takes too much of the tension out of you and you inevitably relax. If you asked everyone, they would prefer the game to be at 2pm and we all go home at 4.30pm. Which is not the case at all, because the championship is very important and because everyone plays basketball. Maroussi is penultimate and can score 100 points in the game. He proved it with Zaragoza. He could do the same today. With the defense we played. At the moment this is the situation.
That’s why you need more depth, that’s why you need more players in EuroLeague teams. And these players will have to step in and fulfill their role every time.
To sign Mensah, obviously we took into account some factors, some data. And we saw what our team needed at that particular point in time and based of course on what the market is giving. The whole of Europe and the whole planet is looking for tall people. You can’t suddenly say that I decide in December to bring in the player who will dominate. But I believe he has the characteristics to become important. And we also need a three-on-five rotation for so many games. It doesn’t date with two, it’s impossible. Apart from Mustafa’s injury, which you saw how important he is since he came back, the loss of Moses was something very important for us. A player who entered the EuroLeague last year and put up 20 points in several games. We went on a streak of 8-9 wins. It is not generally understood how important this absence is to us. But it is what it is and we have to move on.”.
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.