Dimitris Diamantidis was the guest in LivePressRoom of BC Panathinaikos. He talked about the game against Olympiakos on Sunday, the situation in the team, what basketball and his teammates mean to him. He was more than clear talking about how important it is for him to be a member of Panathinaikos, revealing that he never thought of leaving the team, during the conversations for the renewal of his contract, saying “I knew where I wanted to be”.
- Have you ever cried after a game, out of sadness or happiness?
“No… Never. Neither of happiness, nor of sadness”.
- Do you worry about the fact that team doesn’t look so “steady” during its games?
“The fact that we play and we get a big margin during the game, but we can’t keep up to it, it’s definitely something that worries us and it worries our coaches too. It’s something that we have to face and solve soon enough. We must be consistent in our games, making things easier for us for the rest of each one of them”.
- Is it something that you have more in your mind with the game against Olympiakos coming up?
“No… It’s not something that we think about because of this game. It’s something that has to do with our team and the way we are playing generally and the way we are going to play for the rest of the season”.
- Will you be ready for Sunday’s game?
“I am sure. We have two more days to prepare ourselves, to work on some stuff that we want to present in the game. I believe that we are going to be ready psychologically and basketwise”.
- Which is the right attitude for the fans and the team for the game against Olympiakos?
“We have said many times before that the fans give us extra power. Their attitude especially in Euroleague games that more fans are coming, is great and they help us a lot. I wish to live the same experience also in the game against Olympiakos, because they always give us this extra motive, to give something more in the game”.
- What were your feelings when you made that block shot against Acker?
“During the game you don’t have the time to feel too many things, because the game itself changes from one moment to another. I can tell you that afterwards I felt happy that I was able to help my team to win. That’s all!”
- Would you ever go to Olympiakos; And if yes, why?
«Νο, I would never go to Olympiakos, so there is no need to answer that second question!”
- Did it cross your mind to leave Panathinaikos in 2007, when the discussions for the renewal of your contract were taking place?
“To tell you the truth, no. I new since day one where I want to be and the thought of going somewhere else didn’t even cross my mind. I was very happy in Panathinaikos and I still am. I am happy that I am member of this team!”
- How do you feel as the best basketball players after Nikos Gallis, both in talent and ethics?
“First of all I have to thank for these words. I don’t think though that I have reached to that point yet. I consider myself as a player who tries to help his team to achieve its goals. I am happy when I can be a part of this effort and success”.
- People expect from you to be the new Alvertis. How long do you plan to stay in the team?
“I am not the new Alvertis. Fragkiskos has a 19year course in the team and his name is connected to the biggest successes of the club. It’s definitely great to make the first steps of your career and to it in the same club, with amazing presence both on and of the court. I don’t want to think when I am going to stop playing and what I am going to be. I think about the present, I think what I live now and I try to help my team. I don’t think what will happen now, the next year or in two years. I think about now!”
- What is Alvertis for all of you?
“Fragkiskos is a big chapter for the whole team. His presence helps all the players because he has too many experiences gathered all these years. He also helps us out of the court, where his role it’s too important. It’s a great help for us to have such a person next to us. I underline the word “person”, because as player we all know him and what he can do!”
- Would you say that some people from Panathinaikos had special meaning for you?
“I had and still have a good solid relation with all the players. The presence of our coaches was truly important and played a great role for me, because as soon as I arrived in Panathinaikos I saw that basketball was… different. It’s logical when you see stuff like this, different situations to get attached and to keep going with the philosophy that they are working”.
- Who would you choose for the ideal five of Panathinaikos?
“I think that the ideal five of Panathinaikos is a subject for the coach, because he is the one who knows better who can help and who must play”.
- Obradovic has stated in the past that he learns something from you all every single day. What do you learn from him?
“I think that we learn many more things that he is learning from us. If he learns one thing, we learn 100 from him!”
- The presence of Giannakopoulos Bros in the practice in almost daily basis, brings pressure, or security and support for you?
“I don’t think that anybody can get stressed from their presence. On the contrary. They are coming and help us, they are next to us and it’s important for us. It’s great joy to see them every time in the practice and I don’t believe that somebody is getting stressed with this”.
- Do the players of Panathinaikos still have a motive regarding the Greek League and the Greek Cup?
“Yes, of course we do have motivation! Every title is a motive by itself. It’s something that the coach and also my team mates have mentioned in the past. Getting titles is essential for us. It’s the measure of achieving our goals”.
- What do you think that we must expect to see on Sunday in the game against Olympiakos?
“We want the win, because we have already one loss against Panellinios. Olympiakos is undefeated, we know, but the title is still a long run. The team must stay calm. We know what we have to face. We need to be calm and concentrated and all the rest will fall in place. I can’t speak about systems and plays. I can say that we must stay focused for 40 minutes, to have passion, will, because it’s a really special game and it’s essential to be calm during the whole game, because a game can start bad or good, but you have to stay in everything that you have planned the previous days”.
- Do you feel more pressure given the fact that you have this loss from the game against Panellinios?
“We don’t even think of it in this particular way. After the defeat against Panellinios, an ugly loss for us, what we all said and we all agreed on is that the League is not yet finished. There are a lot of games ahead. We go on, we have our mind set at the game against Olympiakos, to get the win to be on top again!”
- What basketball means to you?
“It’s my life! What I like, what I enjoy. It’s all I wanted to do since I was a little boy. It’s my life, my joy!”
- What your team mates mean to you?
“Basketball is a team sport so the team mates are an essential ingredient. Every player has a different personality and he can do different things on the court. You and your team mate have to find a road you can both walk on. It’s difficult, but also very important in order to be a real team!”
- Sometimes during the games you get tensed. Is it because of the pressure, tiredness or something else?
“I think it’s both. It’s very important also to understand that athletes are just human too. They want to win, they make a huge effort on the floor and it’s only logical that sometimes the may break the line. I have to say at this point that extreme reactions is not the right way to express any feelings you may have. And beliebe me when they go back home, they think of what they did and they are feeling really, truly sorry! All of them…”
- How do you imagine yourself in 10 years from now?
“I have never thought about it. The one thing I can say is that I want to be healthy. We’ll see what we’ll happen with all the rest”.
- What do you like to do when you are not playing or practicing?
“We don’t have too much free time. Usually I go out for dinner, to the movies, or whenever we can we’ll stay up a little bit more”.
- What frightens you the most?
“The illnesses. I am truly afraid of illnesses. Inside the court? I may get a little bit scared when I see my team losing and the time runs out. Sometimes we find the solutions, sometimes we don’t”.
- Would you consider taking a break from the national team?
“No… I haven’t even thought about it. There is truly no reason to think about the National Team this time of year”.
- What it takes for a kid to play basketball?
“I don’t think that I am the right person to speak about it. Speaking logically I can say that talent is needed, the will to work hard and to love what you do”.
- What would you like to see from the fans on Sunday and will you present to them?
“Fans must expect to see a team that will step on the floor full of passion but also with a clear mind, in order to be ready to give 100% for the win. We would fans to be calm, to help the team. We want a good game that everybody will enjoy either those who will come to OAKA, or those who will watch if from home on TV”.
