Itoudis: “At least 12 teams in the Euroleague playoffs”

Dimitris Itoudis expressed the view that teams that will take part in the Euroleague playoffs expressed in statements on the EHCB League coaches website commenting on the new form of the event with the most teams in it.

In detail what he said.



What does a 20 -team Euroleague mean to a coach?



“It means more obligations, more devils, more trips, especially for Hapoel Tel Aviv, since we play our home games in Bulgaria. As president of EHCB, I believe we should look more closely at the competitive aspect of the league. In the past, when we were 16 teams, eight reached the playoffs, so this is 50% of the teams, and approaching the percentage of NBA teams involved in the playoffs.

When the league was expanded to 18 teams, nothing changed in the playoffs, and as coaches, we had to put pressure on the integration of the playoffs. We are now in the 20 teams and the playoffs are still a case of eight teams, raising the percentage of teams involved in 40% and only if we add those who are competing in the playoffs, we return to 50%. This means that 12 out of 20 teams will lose their playoffs and their season will be considered bad.

I used to say the same things when I participated in the Final Four. We talked as coaches for the playoffs and they heard us. We need to shape and evolve a little more of the competitive aspect, either with two or more regions. Either geographically divided or even drawing.

We need at least 12 teams involved in the playoffs, even with extensive rounds. We now have six teams that have qualified directly to the playoffs and four more, with two of them qualifying for the playoffs. In the NBA, 16 out of 30 teams compete in the playoffs, and if we add the playoffs, then it’s 20 in 30, so it’s 67% of the league. We have to wonder why. Is it just convenient to participate eight groups?

I think we can also end up with more teams in the future and full playoffs, so we have to move in this direction at every step. “

How do coaches and teams deal with almost twice as many weeks of double -action weeks and logistical support challenges?



“All teams have customized their roster to 16-17 players, due to their domestic championships. We need more players for rotation, so do things, so we expanded the roster. We expect injuries and fatigue. Compared to the NBA, there is an inequality in the league regulations by country and a different system for foreign players by country. In Israel, five foreigners are allowed to register and an Israeli player should always be on the pitch during the championship matches.

In Turkey, we fought to change things and now seven foreigners are allowed. There is a variety of federations and domestic championships and Euroleague is not responsible for it.

Euroleague says we are not interested in passport and so things must be. If not, you ask me not to be a coach but a calculator. The rules should be the same or at least similar. The Spaniards have Cotonou players, which is very smart. Domestic championships should be inspired by a country such as Spain, which has success with the national team and is the best local championship in Europe, the most competitive. Therefore, these things should be simplified for everyone, and this includes salaries and even taxation. We are in talks with Euroleague on a framework agreement for coaches, and even if different countries have different tax systems, ideally, Euroleague as an entity could operate under European law and have the same obligations for all clubs. “

Why do you think these issues should be addressed earlier than later?



“We need to discuss this as we head to 22 or 24 teams in the near future. It goes without saying that we will end up in the form of two groups and we must discuss the entry into the playoffs. The time is right to even discuss how the European club season will end. If the Euroleague final or the finals should be the last games of the season, as in football.

These teams should not play for the domestic championship after the end of Euroleague. As an event, the Final Four should be the end of the season. All of this presupposes collaborations and consultations that we do not have. We would all like to sit down, discuss and find solutions. “

Given that EuroLeague shareholders will soon meet again with FIBA ​​and NBA, do you believe that discussions with FIBA ​​should also have a different framework than exclusively about NBA Europe?



“Isn’t this an opportunity to sit down and discuss? So let us not hurt us the different views that may exist right now. We need to find ways of communicating, and that is about Euroleague itself. Each team that enters the league should have a contract with at least a few benefits if a shareholder.

And once it enters the event, it should have at least a three -year contract. Partizan and the Red Star did it, Dubai took a five -year contract, but all stakeholders should also have the right to vote and also the responsibilities that accompany it, otherwise this right could be revoked. But I believe that if you become a shareholder, then this is already a given. You do not become a shareholder by accident. One -year design cannot be done. Most of our owners are successful entrepreneurs and no one is making an annual design for his other businesses. “