Bartzokas: «We are unbeatable when we play together»

At the Media Day ahead of the derby vs Panathinaikos (14/03, 20:15 CET) for the 29th round of the Euroleague, Olympiacos' coach Giorgos Bartzokas spoke about the uniqueness of these games, the importance of fan support, and what has changed compared to the Cup game.

In his initial remarks, when asked about what he expects from the 6th derby this year, he said: "It's a different game every time. That’s basketball, it depends on how the opponents are, the momentum of the year, the motivation, the health. All these factors play a role. I don’t know what kind of game to expect. I’m certainly expecting a tough one. Panathinaikos is in good form and, in any case, is a talented team. This is proven by their position in the standings. It will be a special game, as always, and it requires patience, sticking to the plan, no heroisms, just sticking to our game plan."

Regarding whether the fact that the two teams know each other well makes tactical preparation easier, he emphasized: "In terms of video work, it makes our job easier because we’ve played many times and there’s no need for extensive analysis. We mainly focus on the mistakes we made in the previous game and less on an unknown opponent. But the same applies to our opponents, so I don’t know if this gives us an advantage. What is certain is that we will have an advantage due to our home court, the atmosphere won’t be pleasant for them. It’s a game that we’re motivated to play, and we’re looking forward to it with great interest. We want to finish the Euroleague with as many wins as possible and secure the best possible position. This is a crucial game for that goal."

When asked what he would like to see different compared to the last two games, he replied: "The Greek League was a special situation. In the Cup, if you remember, we were in control of the game. We were leading throughout the first half, and in the third quarter, we were up by 7-8 points. Then Panathinaikos took the lead, and we went on a big run and were up by 4 at the end. But we made two mistakes in offense, and Panathinaikos won the game. It was essentially a game of one decision. But we had only one guard then, Goss, who played more than 30 minutes. Now we have more options, Luka (Vildoza), Saben (Lee). We’ll have more ball handlers so that Goss won’t be overloaded."

Asked about how difficult it is for players to stay focused on the "game-by-game" approach when the team has a 10-1 record in the second half of the season, he said: "Obviously, it’s not that difficult because we’re winning. The players understand the importance of these games. They aim to do well in the Euroleague. The pressure, of course, is high. Since the beginning of the year, I haven't agreed with statements like 'we’ll definitely be in Abu Dhabi.' It’s a very tough process, every game has its own challenges. On the other hand, everyone sees the fans' thirst, their support, and that’s an extra motivation for everyone."

Asked about the biggest challenge, coaching-wise, for tomorrow's game, he said: "I don’t have challenges anymore, I just want to win. I don’t have anything extraordinary to plan. I just want to convince the players that when we play together, both defensively and offensively, we are unbeatable. That’s what I believe."

Fournier: "We need to prepare for a big battle"

"It’s a very important game for us, for the fans, for everyone. We need to make sure we go in, fight, and win," said Evan Fournier.

When asked why tomorrow's (14/03) game is so special, even though there are no significant standings implications, he replied: "The most important game is always the next one, and the next game is against Panathinaikos. We’re not thinking about the future, just about what’s in front of us. We need to prepare for a battle."