Panathinaikos wants to finish the year with a positive outcome in front of its fans. This is what Zeljko Obradovic asked in his statement in view of the game against Brose baskets, which will take place tomorrow (21/12, 21:00) at the OAKA indoors arena. The game will be the last one of the Euroleague regular season, with the “Greens” now awaiting the Top16 draw that will take place in Barcelona on December 28.
“We are in the final game of the Euroleague regular season facing Brose Baskets, and want to play a good game in order to win and move on to the Top16 draw. It is a very important game for us, because it is the last game in front of our fans for 2011, which was a great year for us. I hope that we have our fans by our side, creating a beautiful atmosphere and ending up with a good result.”
Panathinaikos’ coach referred to his players’ motivation: “We have often spoken about this. I want to believe that we will have motivation in tomorrow’s game and that it will be a much stronger motivation than we had against Maroussi. Brose Baskets is a very good team, very athletic, and we do not forget that they defeated us in the first game. They like to run a lot and shoot many three-pointers. They have a possibility to qualify to the next round, so it is a given fact that its players are going to play a tough and highly motivated game. After this game we will have about a month ahead of us until the Top16.”
Zeljko Obradovic was also asked about the break until Panathinaikos’ competition obligations in the Euroleague Top16 round restart: “Before the second round games in this competition, we are looking at a month of tough games for the Greek championship. We are playing against Rethymno, Peristeri, Panionios, Aris, and Kolossos Rhodes. We will have time to prepare well and be ready. It is obvious that we need more players to help the team and that our concentration is not at the level that it should be. Every year we work the same way, with seriousness and without faking it. There is no reason to do that. I have players in the team who are experienced and smart and they all understand that it is important that they all their part to help.”
Obradovic also proceeded to an account of the team’s course in Euroleague so far, speaking about the rest of the games as well: “I had said before the first game against Unicaja Málaga that it is going to be a very difficult season for us and I still believe that. It will continue being difficult. Whatever happens in the draw is not important. If you want to achieve something good, you must play against the best teams, as was the case for us against CSKA at the OAKA. It was a test for us. They all say that it has an excellent roster; it plays well and is considered a favorite for the Final Four. We had the possibility to win, but they won. A week ago in Moscow everyone said that three minutes decided the winner. A second is all it takes in basketball: one shot, one steal, one assist, one block…This is what basketball is all about and unless you understand this you have problems. That is why I insist that we must have concentration all 40 minutes in every game. We will know if we have managed that after the Top16. We will try and want our fans with us. Our fans must understand that this is a sporting “war”, as they presented it in Moscow. They must all understand this and stand by our side. Our fighting limit in our games is very far from what we are showing now. I am honest with my players and this is what I have asked of them: to fight! Fight from the first to the last second and give more than 100% in their game. Those who will see you fight will help you, and if you are smart you will take the opportunity and become even better. Every game until the Top16 starts will be very important. They will be games against teams that play very well both at home and on the road. For us, it is very good that we have such games. It will all depend on us and on how some players will make use of the time they play. If they play well, they will continue to play; and let me give you an example: two days ago we stopped the practice session because they were all fighting so hard that we were afraid of someone getting injured. This is 100% different from what everyone saw them do in the game against Maroussi. We told them that it suffices that they fight every game as hard as they played in that practice; that is enough for us… We will see…”
