Bartzokas: “The ‘must’ is related to the teams that have requirements”

Olympiacos Piraeus is playing at Virtus Bologna in the EuroLeague’s “Devil’s Week” (December 19, 9:30 p.m., Novasports Prime, Sportish’s Match Center) and Giorgos Bartzokas spoke before the red-whites’ departure for the game in Italy.

In detail what the Greek technician said:

“I think the ‘must’ has to do with the teams that have demands, especially Olympiacos. Of course there is a ‘must’, but in every game. And at Valencia there was a ‘must’ and our team performed well below the standards we set for ourselves. Below the world’s expectations and of course we paid for it because we were much worse than we should have been in every area of ​​the game. But it always acts as a wake-up call, at least for the serious teams we want to believe that we are a serious team. We have to show a reaction in how we approach the games and issues like that, which are very important.

At the moment we are doing well, we are healthy, we have been training normally, but unfortunately what matters is that we have no training sessions. After the game we had a practice where the coach and 3-4 All-Star players were missing. Today we had a full training session in which the team is slowly showing that the players who were out are getting into a better rhythm. But the games are continuous and through the games this should happen.”

For Bologna: “Bologna are currently in third place, not because of the schedule, because they had a favorable schedule, but because they deserve it. They are a team whose quality and style of play is reflected in their position. I remember it’s them.” The team that was maybe even fuller last year was at the bottom of the table, and the same team is this year with a different motivation from the players, with a different cohesion, with a different one Play style maybe reached the point where they are very fair at the top. Their home stadium is difficult and last year we won there very hard. It’s a team that Mickey is missing at the moment, but Dunston and Sengelia, you don’t know who is “5”, who is “4”, they rotate. But generally they have a flow in their attack, they have great speed, everyone plays together. Of course the quality is also great. There are also players like Cordinier who have improved their game tremendously since last year. In general it is a team that plays very well.”

For the ups and downs in attack: “I don’t want to keep mentioning it because you asked me to say it. It is not possible for a team that has players coming in and out to have a flow in the way they attack. A homogeneity, playing automatically, is humanly impossible. A team that has injuries and absences is usually the reason they are not playing well, not because the other players playing don’t deserve it. Someone who comes to play, to try to play. Coming into the game and doing things to emphasize their presence while having to let the game slowly come to them. I’m not saying this about anyone in particular, I’m saying this about all the players who have overcome an injury. I think that didn’t allow us to find a good tempo in our offense. I think we have a lot of talent, hopefully that will show soon.”