Panathinaikos is hosting Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv tomorrow evening (22:00). It is the first of the playoffs series games in Euroleague between the two teams, who are “going after” three victories in order to seal their ticket for the Final Four in Istanbul. The fact in view of tomorrow’s game is that Zeljko Obradovic, despite having repeatedly been in a Euroleague final four, has the highest motivation possible, being at the helm of “the best team of the last decade in Europe”, as he typically said about Panathinaikos.
The introduction that the “clover’s” coach made concerned tomorrow’s game and its significance: “We have another big goal ahead of us, as we are given the opportunity to go to the Final Four through this series of games. The name “Maccabi” says it all. Everyone knows what it means to European basketball and without question it is the most interesting game. The first thing I would like to say is that the first two games will be held at the OAKA. This is not a big advantage for us. It will be a big advantage only in case we understand the way that we must fight. We have been in the Euroleague playoffs before. The team that had the biggest concentration was also the team that had the biggest possibility of qualifying. Everyone wants to have the home advantage; it is something very important, and I have absolutely no doubt that our fans will come to support us and this is also something very important. But it is we who must make things happen; we must apply our own pressure on court. The two teams facing each other are the teams that had played in last year’s final, and that says it all. It will be really special for us. I do not think that it is necessary to say anything about Maccabi other than its head coach is Mr. Blatt, the philosophy of whom we know. And the administration has decided to continue with him for another two years. This means that they believe in him, in his philosophy, and are happy about the way Maccabi has played with him as its coach. They have some new players in the roster, but they play the same way they played last season too. I do not want to talk about this or make an analysis. We are ready, have watched many of their games, know how to play against them; but it is not just a single game: it is a series of games and must defeat them three times. It is never easy to beat someone in Europe three times.”
Obradovic was then asked to what an extent last season’s final “helps” regarding the similarities and differences that Maccabi Electra has compared to it: “The main thing is that they have the same coach and this also means the same philosophy. There are many players who have stayed on. We have watched many of its games in Euroleague as well as in the Adriatic League, although there they have the opportunity to give some of their players time to rest. The way they play indicates that they understand the game. They have shown many different elements in many of the games so far. At this level of competition where we are right now, we know Mr. Blatt very well, as he believes he knows us very well too. Each game will provide its own answers on issues that regard tactics. Maccabi changes defense; they like to press the ball full court, to play zone defense, to play matchup defense… Apart from that we shall see how they react and how we will react during the game.”
“Twelve ready players”
Regarding the way they are handling the injuries that have occurred in the last period of time, he underlined: “In any case we try to practice hard and prepare ourselves for the oncoming games. Tsartsaris was out for 7 days. After the game against Olympiakos he had his first practice on Saturday. Kaimakoglou felt some pain in the game against Peristeri and has not practiced since. Both players play in position four. We have tried to find solutions in the practice sessions, but it is not something to cry about…it is all part of the game. Kaimakoglou will decide if he is ready or not. We will see how he feels today, but even if he is OK, to be honest, I am not sure that he will be included in the team. As always, I will decide at the last moment, tomorrow before the game. He is an important player to the team but the question is who isn’t? Is there anyone who is not important? What I want is 12 players ready to fight from the first to the last second, understanding that we have fought all yearlong to get to this game.”
“All in, pal!”
A remark about the fact that Maccabi Electra at the same moment in time last season had 103 assists in the competition, while the respective number for this season is 66 led Obradovic to the following stance: “Assists are just one part of the game and it also depends on how the opponent is going to deal with you; in this particular case, how we are going to deal with them. Assists mean easy baskets, easy layups…. We try not to give them the right to score easily. As in every game, we will try to prevent easy points in fast breaks or easy dunks; we will try to protect our basket. How successful we will be in that effort will be answered in the game tomorrow. Maybe everything goes well; you do everything right and then the opponents all start shooting successful three-pointers. Blu, Pnini, Smith… getting them in… All in, pal… (tr.n.: spoke in Greek, saying “Ola mesa”). What can you do? This is the game, my friend. We will get the answer only during the game, not by talking.”
Panathinaikos’ coach was then asked how he feels that the basketball team is the one called upon to restore the joy to the “clover’s” fans.
“Is this something new? This is something that happens almost every year. I am an honest person and I always like to say what I believe. You are a journalist. You can ask the fans if they agree or not and we will see. We have been the best team in Europe for the past 10 years and this is as much a fact as is that 1+1=2. We always find motivation to do the things we do, the coaching staff, the players, the entire team. This is what is important. We are all in it together. Maccabi will come here to play with extra motivation because we beat them in the final and are thinking that “now, it is our turn”. Unless you have motivation yourself nothing can be done. We must forget what happened last season and think that we have an opportunity for yet another Final Four. We cannot think what has happened in another sport. I care about my team and anyone who is here. We must have the same motivation as Mr. Thanassis. How many years has he been here? How many titles has he won? But he is here today again. If you see him here, it means that something important is going on. Same as Mr. Pavlos was here during practice yesterday. That is motivation! How is it possible for anyone to come here and play without motivation?”
Zeljko Obradovic was also asked about some players’ predictions that see Panathinaikos not qualifying to the Final Four this season: “Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Personally, when asked, I will never say that one team or another is the favorite, because I have experience and know what basketball is like. It may matter to some fans. I have no problem with anyone making predictions, but we, the coaches and the players, have our own viewpoints. At the end of the day I do not think that it is important what a single person says, but who that person is….then you immediately understand.”
