Bartzokas: «What is going to count is the approach»
Olympiacos has secured home court for the Euroleague playoffs, however, tomorrow (31/03, 20.30 CET), is going to fight with all he’s got for the win against Panathinaikos, and the best possible seed.
“I wouldn’t say that our team’s goal right now is the first place per se, but rather the best possible one”, was what the ‘red & whites’ coach, Giorgos Bartzokas, stressed. “We have neither the luxury, nor the room to think about first place. The games and the schedule are overwhelming. We play with Panathinaikos tomorrow and first of all we want to win this game so that we keep our chances optimal”.
Talking about the game against the ‘greens’ and the keys that will decide it, he said: “If the game is a defence based one, then no one knows. It comes from how the players feel about it. It’s definitely going to be a difficult environment for Panathinaikos and a comfortable one for us because we play at home, but this should not disorient us. We have a goal ahead of us, we have made a huge effort. March is the month with the most games. We have already played twelve. It’s too many games. In some we appeared to be tired, both mentally and physically, but right now, we all must give it a boost and finish the regular season in the highest note possible. Because that’s the way to be good in the playoffs”.
On whether the fact that his team has a 12-0 record against Panathinaikos is a factor, he replied: “It doesn’t matter what has happened in the previous games. Panathinaikos will be playing with no pressure at all and they have nothing to lose. Only to win. We have things at stake if we lose the game, so what counts is that we approach the opponent with respect and be ready to compete. They are a team we appreciate and respect. We don’t believe that we can win the game without trying”.
Finally, about whether Moustapha Fall will be able to play (he had been ill and did not play against Villeurbanne) as well as Isaiah Canaan (he’s coming back from the Staes tomorrow, where he got to attend the birth of his second child), he said: “Fall is better and will practice. Canaan is coming back tomorrow and it’s extremely difficult that he plays without having practiced”.