Papanikolaou: «Let's finish the season winning»
Olympiacos will host Panathinaikos in Game 1 of the Stoiximan GBL Finals (June 3, 20:00 CET), and head coach Georgios Bartzokas and team captain Kostas Papanikolaou spoke during Media Day one day before the highly anticipated matchup.
In his opening remarks about the first final, Georgios Bartzokas said: “These games are always different. They depend on the time period, the psychological and physical conditioning, form, and health of the teams. All these factors play a role. It will be an interesting series between two high-level teams. Series are shaped from one result to the next based on the players’ mental management and readiness because these are special games. Having good statistics is not as important in these games as winning. Both teams are motivated. Since the end of the EuroLeague, we have been working tactically and mentally to reach the level we need in terms of motivation.”
Regarding Tyler Dorsey, who will miss the first final, Bartzokas stated: “Dorsey will not play tomorrow. He has tendinitis. It comes from accumulated fatigue, as he has been playing continuously since the summer with the national team. He hasn’t suffered an injury, but he has tendinitis. He hasn’t practiced and is unavailable.”
On the team's motivation after winning the EuroLeague, the Olympiacos coach said: “There is no concern. We understand that situations are always influenced by results. We have been pursuing this title and have placed emphasis on it. It’s a championship title, the Greek League championship, and we want to win it. We must be motivated. Of course, our primary goal was the EuroLeague. We have remained undefeated all season and believe we have a good chance of winning it with home-court advantage. Now we have to prove it.”
Asked about Alec Peters, who received a warm reception from fans both at the SEF and at his home, Bartzokas commented: “He is an absolute professional and has proven that throughout his four years with Olympiacos. It would be a mistake to focus too much on that. He has shown that he is not affected by such things. The entire team needs motivation, and it will have it. As for the displays of affection, he is part of a team that has achieved significant success in recent years, and the core group has built a strong connection with the fans.”
Concerning his plans for the 6 foreign-player spots, Bartzokas explained: “Neither team will play with its best possible roster because there are restrictions. However, they can play with the most suitable roster for each game. Based on the circumstances of the game and what the opponent brings, we will have 8 players available and choose the 6 foreign players according to our plan. These decisions can change depending on who will be in the 12-man roster. It is better to decide based on the available data. We have until midnight today to finalize it. It is something that concerns us and it is not an easy decision. We have discussed several options and will know more later.”
Olympiacos captain Kostas Papanikolaou also commented on the finals: “We have the final goal of the season ahead of us, and one of the most important; if not the most important. I understand the excitement surrounding the EuroLeague, but the championship is something we want every year, and tomorrow, together with our fans, we have the opportunity to take the first step.”
Regarding how the team will manage its emotions after winning the EuroLeague, Papanikolaou said: “We have already had several discussions among ourselves. We want to finish the season with a win. We are professional athletes, and in elite competition your goal is to pursue as many successes and titles as possible. We have another opportunity in front of us.”
Finally, when asked what he expects from Panathinaikos in the finals, the Olympiacos captain replied: “Of course they will be motivated, just as we were motivated last year after our defeat in Abu Dhabi. As I said, this is the last title of the season, and winning the championship is a major goal for both teams. They will be ready, and these games will be very intense. Once again, our focus is on being the best version of ourselves when we step onto the court.”