Bartzokas: «It was an offer I couldn't have denied»
Olympiacos will be hosting Alba Berlin tomorrow (14/01, 20.00 CET), in a game of particular importance, not only ranking wise, but also because Giorgos Bartzokas, the coach who led our team to win the Euroleague in 2013, is returning in the 'red' bench!
As expected, all the lights were turned on the veteran coach. "Seeing familiar faces and friends makes me happy, however, nothing is the same compared to the last time I'd been here. I did not leave in the best fashion possible, while I've come back in a much better one. With the exception of three players, the faces are not the same and the current players are not the same as characters or players compared to then. Neither am I the same to whom I used to be five years ago. Everything changes in life. It's a new reality", he commented.
Asked whether he feels that the 'burden' he's asked to 'carry' is huge, he replied: "The last time I came here it had been harder, because then Olympiacos was the Champion of both Greece and Europe. Now Olympiacos is not in a good place and you can realize that my task to make things better is easier. My decision to return was not an emotional one, but rather a purely professional one. It was an offer I couldn't have denied, very attractive according to my opinion, in all its parameters. Olympiacos continues to be a huge Euroleague brand name and a club where anyone would like to work at. I'm very happy; however, I think we need to stop talking about me. Whatever was to be said about me has been said in the past few days. Now, we need to focus on the team".
On whether he's ready to meet apotheosis during tomorrow's game (14/01), he commented: "In Balkans and specifically in Greece and with Olympiacos, we all know what the feelings and the reactions are. When we came back from winning the Euroleague, there had been 20,000 people in the parking lot and it had been the same parking lot where I left Olympiacos from. I at least am prepared for any extreme emotion of apotheosis and love, but also for the contrary. Whoever has worked for a team like Olympiacos needs to be ready for everything. It doesn't really matter what the people think, but rather the daily life of the team".
When asked to comment on the 'red' roster, he replied: "We need to be realists. The quality of the team is reflected in its seeding. Euroleague is a competition with many games, you compete against everyone and practically you get what you deserve. Right now, the team is where it deserves to be up to now. From there on, I'm certain that everyone is better than they have shown up to now, both as a team and as individuals. Our immediate goal is to set more specific rules, so that we play better".
The 'reds' coach declined to talk about tactical issues, in regard of how he's going to be using his players and in what positions. "I'm not going to talk tactics with you", he said and continued: "I think that one of the coaches' assets should be adjustability. Right now, it's not the roster I have chosen, but it doesn't matter. It's the roster I've decided to work with, so right now these players are in theory, those that I would have liked to choose. I need to convince myself that that's the case".
He then talked about the mentality he, his associates and his players are going to be displaying… "We have 16 games left and according to numbers, we need to win 11 of them. That alone seems very hard. So, it's more realistic that our team only focuses on the next game. This procedure is going to be easier and more feasible, instead of thinking that we need to win a great number of games in a series of a lot of games. We are going to have this mentality and I hope that everyone understands that this is how the team is going to be working. We'll see what we make of it at the end. Olympiacos has a horizon of practice next. We need to implement a certain competition mentality, set some rules and slowly see where we are heading. Obviously, since I'm going to be here for 2.5 years, we want to build. It doesn't matter what I think, but what the administration thinks. I insist though, although it may sound as a cliché, we only should be focusing on the next game".
Finally, about tomorrow's (14/01) Olympiacos' opponent, Alba Berlin, he said: "It's the best Euroleague team with shooting in the first ten seconds, which means that they are purely a team of tempo. And if I'm not mistakes, they are second in the last seconds, which means that they execute in the transition, they find the opposing defense with imbalance and since there's no defense detached from offense, of course we need to defend well, but we also need to execute well when attacking, without turnovers and with good choices. Have good offensive rebounding, because the first way to defend in the transition is this one. We need to execute well in the offense, so that when we turn in defense there's not imbalance".
«He will be helping the team and me»
Antonis Koniaris pointed out: "It's certain that both games that follow bear a … must. We won in Valencia and now we want to continue the same. Usually, we hadn't been that focused in the next game following something that good, however, we now need to win".
About Bartzokas' coming to the team, he commented: "We can't be changing everything. Everything is done gradually. I think that the team has a quite good rhythm right now and the game against Alba is a game that we need to win. Coach Bartzokas is the first Greek to win the Euroleague. His worth is established, I don't need to be speaking for him. However, he will be certainly helping both me and the team".