Olympiacos welcomes Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday (21:15, Newsit.gr, Novasports Prime) for the 34th match in Euroleague (last of normal duration). In the event of a victory, his team George Bardzoka It will conquer the first, in view of the launch of the playoffs.
George Bartzokas stressed he is not interested in … a 1st place curse (no team that took the lead in the regular season has won the Euroleague in the new form of the event), revealing, of course, that this issue was previously concerned with him.
At the same time, he stressed that the “reds” would fight for the victory, that he cannot … lower his team to lose, while referring to Maccabi Tel Aviv and the estimate he has to his coach, Odet Katas.
George Bardzokas spoke …
For whether the Olympic He wants the first place: “Obviously, yes. It doesn’t give anything meaningful after all, because we don’t know who will be 7th or 8th. Anyway, if we knew we wouldn’t choose, we would try to win, given the difficulties we have and the absences. In general we did some good workouts, we had the opportunity for 3-4 days to workout and believe we will be very competitive. “
Whether he is interested in the tradition that the first of the rating in the normal Euroleague period has never conquered the trophy in the new form of the event: “I used to deal with it, now no. You can’t put the team sit down to lose. Finishing first in this Euroleague, which are struggling with so many teams to get into the play-in, not even the play-offs and we see who’s out is a “justification” for the trouble of children in the year. We would like to end first. We will definitely reflect on the opponent in the play-offs, but they should be more concerned, because we will be first. So we’ll see it like that. We have confidence and faith in our team and so it must be done. “
For Maccabi’s profile: “Beyond that, we face Maccabi, who is a team that is trying to freeze the way you are attacked with various tricks, such as a belt, match-AP and changes. They are trying to confuse the opponent with some tricks. It’s a very good team.
I have a great appreciation for their coach (Odend Katas). I believe it has the most difficult task of all other Euroleague coaches. By the end of the regular season we are exhausted by the games, think of those who travel to home games.
So I would like to praise him, to say what I had said last year, that he has nice ideas for basketball. He had the hardest job and deserve congratulations on what they do, they have made big wins now and we believe that tomorrow will be very competitive. “
For the status of the injured: “I’m not sure. It is certain that Fournier will be, for Fal and Milutinov are doubtful, we will see it after training. “