Bartzokas: «We have to be patient when moving the ball»
According to the head of Olympiacos, Giorgos Bartzokas, patience is going to be the key for tomorrow’s game (27/01, 20.00 CET) against Red Star at the SEF, for the 23rd round of the Euroleague.
“We practiced yesterday, we are going to practice again today. We have had two days to prepare this game. It is true we are missing some players. Tomorrow we’ll get to see who is going to be playing and who’s not”, is what the ‘reds’ coach said at first and went on to analyze the Serbian team’s game style. “They are a team that defends really well during the first ten seconds of the offense and we need to be patient moving the ball. This is the most important factor, when you play against them to have patience and find at which point during your offensive play they are going to show weakness. In simple terms, we should not be hasty. From there on, as I said, they are team that defends very well on the ball and they are very competitive. If you watched their latest games, they have either won or lost by a possession. They have some constants in their game and we have to be ready”.
Asked about the great number of turnovers committed by Olympiacos in their latest European game, he replied: “We have to analyze the way our opponent plays for our players and tell them what they need to be doing. From that point on, sometimes turnovers are the result of a very solid defensive game be the opponent, however, they are often the product you having a bad night, making bad choices, having a bad mental approach to the game. Of course we need to protect the ball. If we gift 21 possessions to the opponent, like we did in the game against Maccabi, that’s a problem. However, we have generally done well in this area this season. We don’t make too many turnovers and that’s a major factor into winning games”.
* Shaquielle McKissic, Giorgos Printezis and Hassan Martin (was feeling unwell) did not practice.