Bartzokas: «It was a very dangerous game» (Vid)
Giorgios Bartzokas commented on the first semifinal game vs AEK following out team's winning performance.
In his opening statement, the Olympiacos coach said: “It was the first game of the series against AEK. A championship semifinal where, of course, a lot is at stake, especially after everything that happened at the Final Four. There, the team gave 100% mentally, physically, and emotionally. And after that, we also had two or three days of celebrations and festivities. That’s completely normal, and I couldn’t control or prevent it from happening. We had to allow the members of the team, and especially the players, to celebrate this achievement. As you can understand, everyone had a great time today; except for me, because we had to make sure we won. It was a very dangerous game, both because of AEK’s quality and because of our lack of concentration and preparation for this game. The fact that we won is very important. I believe that gradually we’ll get back into rhythm, play much better, and perform better on Saturday. If we manage to win again, we’ll then have more time to prepare for the finals. We need that time after the Final Four, and it’s very important for us. Congratulations to AEK as well; they had an outstanding season. Due to a very difficult and unfortunate situation, they lost the BCL trophy. As I read somewhere, Olympiacos, AEK, and PAOK all played in European finals, which confirms the rise of Greek basketball. If you also consider the investments I hear are being made, for example at Aris, it seems the league will be even stronger next season. But since this season is not over yet, let’s stay focused on the present.”
When asked about players with limited playing time helping the team regain its rhythm, the coach commented: “Every player is currently in a different situation. Obviously, they are all excellent players, and at this level everyone has great value, but each person manages these emotions differently. The human factor is always important. The fact that we have depth is significant. For example, today Fournier and Milutinov didn’t play, and obviously they will play the day after tomorrow. It’s important for them as well to get into a good rhythm ahead of the finals, if we are there. I think all 12 players who played contributed. But honestly, I don’t have much more to say about this game. For me, it was a difficult game. We didn’t execute well; we were walking on defense and allowing things. Whenever we built a lead and had the chance to finish the game, we started acting as if it were an exhibition game and threw the ball into the opponents’ hands. I completely understand it; it’s only natural. I also don’t want to become a whiner, but we still have a title ahead of us and we want to win it.”
When asked about the ovation Alec Peters received and how much he deserves it as a person, Georgios Bartzokas replied: “In life and in sports, if your contribution isn’t temporary, and Alec has been here for 4 years now, eventually you get what you deserve, especially in terms of recognition from the fans, who have impeccable instinct and judgment. That’s exactly what happened with Alec. He was and still is a player who never spent a single day in practice without caring about playing the game the right way. All players have strengths and weaknesses, and I think what happened today was recognition for all the players, even those who didn’t have a major role in the EuroLeague. In any case, we are grateful. This is the Olympiacos fanbase; they appreciate that we brought home the trophy and they appreciate the effort. I think this is the result of a process over the last 4 or 5 years, during which we consistently participated in Final Fours and stayed at the top level. I believe that has been appreciated.”