Good Sloukas don’t mean bad Bartzokas

George Bartzokas and Costas Sloukas are not rivals. They are on the same page and have exactly the same goal. And when the result is victorious in the end, what counts is what connects them and not what separates them.

It took Olympiacos a lot to beat Efes. Giving Costas Sloukas one of the best performances of his career while still achieving the buzzer bite that will be a lifetime legacy for him and his team. And of course, this result can prove beneficial for the Red-Whites for the rest of the season.

Dorsey also had to make big shots at the end of the regular season and in overtime Sasha Vezenkov was everywhere again, Mustafa Fal and Costas Papanikolaou played great defences.

But George Bartzokas also had to lend a hand. Not with the so-called tricks they “sell” for trainer promotional videos. Not for a handball change, not for a break that resulted in a basket. Also, in the final attack of the regular season, Bartzokas was not eligible to go for Makisik by his pick. It was obvious to give Kostas Sloukas the ball and let him decide. Like it happened in Barcelona and failed, like it happened in SEF with Fener and put it. And don’t necessarily shoot yourself, but decide. The second sensible choice was for Tyler Dorsey to take the offense despite previously losing the ball. Nobody believed that in the end the order would decide Makisik, who had no previous … honest life.

But that was also the reason why Bartzokas chose the American. Because he thought against the majority and possibly ataman. He did the same with Harrison last year when he scored the three-pointer in the win over Maccabi Tel Aviv. But Makisik didn’t justify him… or did he?

Go on. In a perfectly crafted match by Bartzokas and his staff, Makisik was part of both starlets. And for the last attack that he was awarded the decision but also because he stayed on the ground and not the excellent defender Costas Papanikolaou.

However, the game’s development has provided its own answers. Not just because both Fal and Makisik and Sloukas did exactly what they had to do in the last 30 seconds, but because what happened was part of Olympiacos and Bartzokas’ philosophy. They weren’t momentary plans on the board, but part of the day-to-day work at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

Dorsey’s basket in the 30” followed a perfect defense from Mustafa Fal. Olympiacos decided to make a move and the Frenchman did exactly what the technical staff asked for from the start of the game. He sent Mitsic into his left hand. Everyone had the same order, but the Serb mostly finds a way where he wants. At the decisive point, however, Mitsic went to the left and Fal falsified his attempt. The plan was carried out and the red and white had the last chance.

There was a phase that ended in Bartzokas favorite pass that works like no other across all his teams. Makisik took the ball from Sloukas, but in this case he didn’t short circuit and made the right decision. He passed the ball (back pass) to the Greek Guard and unbalanced the Efes defence. In view of the dimensions and conditions, the attack was reminiscent of “mein swamp boy” from 2005, when Zisis made a difference in everyday team life with a pass to Diamantidis. It didn’t happen, it worked.

Would we discuss these if Dorsey hadn’t reduced to 30” or if Mitsic finally put the basket in Fal or if Sloukas missed from the corner? Of course not. Any Bartzokas substitutions would be scrutinized, Makisik would listen to them because he forgot about Larkin and got a three-pointer, Sloukas could be a loser again because he lost a free three-pointer in overtime when Olympiakos was at +1.

But judging a coach or an organization by one detail shows that they don’t care about basketball and sports. Bartzokas will of course be judged in the end – once the funding is in place – for the decisions he made. For his overall philosophy and relationships with his athletes. But not one shot.

The same applies to players. Like Sloukas said Sportishat the end of the day “We are all judged by the end result“If Olympiacos finishes the season successfully, everyone will increase their shares, look for better offers, have a nicer holiday. And win the love of her people.

During the season it makes sense to have friction. The best players will look for a way to move up the hierarchy to find more time to participate. Others will try to find their role. You will have tension and disagreements because there isn’t just one right way to play basketball. And in one game, victory can come with the overall philosophy of the team, in another thanks to the personality of the player, who often, against all odds, changes the result himself.

Good coaches need good players. And good players look for support from good coaches. Bartzokas, with his distinctive character, belongs to the elite of Europe and is loved by the people of Olympiacos. These are facts, these are not topics for discussion. Costas Sloukas is one of the top guards in the EuroLeague and now that he’s even more comfortable at Olympiakos, he’s getting even better.

The two went above and beyond to work together in the summer of 2020 because they believed in each other. The fact that something came up between them – anyone who says the opposite is hiding the truth – and the belief was lost, happens in groups and is resolved. After all, every issue over the past few days seems to have been competitive rather than personal. And on the court, those who know basketball can communicate with their eyes closed when they decide to take a step back. Because as you know, taking a step or two back gives you time to run faster during combat.

That’s why good Sloukas are not bad Bartzokas. Not the other way around…Especially when they know that stepping down isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of greatness.