Panathinaikos will be facing Real Madrid tomorrow (January 25, 21.00) at the OAKA indoor arena in THY Euroleague Top16 Game 5. Argyris Pedoulakis spoke of the clash at the Press Conference he held today commenting on Dimitris Diamantidis’ return, Jonas Maciulis’ issue but also the honoring of Kostas Mourouzis.
“We have a tough game ahead, a game of dire interest as almost all Top16 games are, across from a team which we are familiar with from Euroleague regular season. It is a structured team, which has been together for three years and bases efforts on velocity through which it mounts to approximately 82 points in its offense. A great part of its game is fast breaks on which it will actually opt many times to get three-point range. If it gets even an inch of space it will attempt a shot immediately. Important part of its game are also connections without the ball. Overall it is in good shape something also apparent from the results it is providing for the Spanish League. Pace is of great importance because everybody knows that the Spanish are taught this style of the game from a young age, the speedy kind. They have alternated certain things as far as their game approach since the regular season especially the manner of approaching their defense on ball possession collaborations, they have new plays; they opt for shorter layouts -using three guards on the perimeter- for a longer period of time in order to be able to run for an even longer period of time. This is why the pace is the key”.
Pedoulakis went on to comment on Dimitris Diamantidis and his return: “Dimitris has recovered; a player who has been out of action essentially for 35 days. He is not conditioned appropriately seeing that he has lost practices and games but he will commit certain necessary things. He has the ability to calm the team down; he offers his quality in many departments of our game. We are also faced with an issue concerning Jonas Maciulis who did not train yesterday, will not train this evening, but will be playing tomorrow. He is a feisty, persistent guy, he will help out and he will get time to rest after the game. After quite some time, we will all be together; not exactly the way we would have hoped but all together nevertheless. We expect to have our fans at the court something very important for our team that has faced so many difficulties. It is not a piece of cake having to face all these issues and the cost of it all is paid in the games. And let us not forget that Sofo is trying to get incorporated in the team, he is doing one heck of a job to try to return and establish a competitive pace. It is a certainty and the fans will have to help all the guys as they always do especially in tough situations in order for us to be able to reach a positive outcome”.
“Huge effort”
The Panathinaikos head coach was questioned about the comparison with the two regular season games against Real Madrid, when the Greens managed to keep their rival below average in offense. And especially in the OAKA encounter: “During that game a great job was done. It was a game in which Tsartsaris was absent and Sofoklis was also injured. We performed behind Stephane and Panko, while our forwards Bramos, Maciulis and Diamantidis had made a huge effort and an exceptional job in many areas of the game. We struck them aiming at their main weapon and through our backcourt rotation we got to run the field. However, every game is a different kettle of fish. A game is a living organism which develops as the game clock runs. Parameters exist which both players and coach must deal with. If Real paces itself and gets a high point accumulation it is a mighty tough assignment to stop its stride. We have cashed in on defensive checks during tough moments and what we are aspiring towards is to play good defense. Another issue is the fact that certain guys are not in the team’s groove yet, automatisms are not yet occurring because although they might perform what we tell them for 3-4 minutes, however after that they will perform what comes natural to them. It is understandable. So, as far as team defense we are not exactly where we would have hoped to be. We had training for two days after quite some time and it was important to us because we had consecutive game obligations which do not allow you to train. And we need training sessions in order to incorporate the last guys to come. For quite some time we were lacking our two creators. To have one guy sidelined for a week might be a good thing because this season there was no recess. However they were sidelined for quite some time. Panathinaikos has a smaller rotation than other years but when certain first string players are missing, the weight falls upon other guys’ shoulders and exhaustion occurs. Take Lasme for instance for a certain period of time or Bramos. Bramos in the game versus Alba Berlin tried to help out more in creation, passed the ball more. You will see no one take 80% of the attempts in offense nor will you see anyone take a far fetched attempt. Team spirit exists; quality and these elements are two which no one doubts. All of these guys have made steps forward. Changes have been made, we had injuries and we are behind in automatisms”.
“Game by game”
When asked if a possible win over Real Madrid would essentially seal a spot in the Euroleague’s play-offs Pedoulakis answered: “It would be a mistake to think such a thing. A circle has closed for a great team and a new one is trying to form with new data. We aspired towards having a dignified presence, advance to the Top16 and take it game by game. This has been our mindset since the very beginning. No game offers you qualification at the moment, no game disqualifies you. As a nation we are slightly extremists. Either all are heroes or scapegoats. It is not so. We are in a tough group and despite all the issues we focus and proceed. In the Greek League we might be running low on gas and maybe it is natural. We have achieved nothing yet. An entire championship lies ahead. Across from Alba we wanted to win, it was a “do or die” game. In every game we tried for the best result. But unfortunately you are not alone out there on the court. Opponent teams are there, ones which have been being built for years, with quality players. Some of our guys have gone up a level; a very important accomplishment. We do not wish though in any event to get them all stressed out. History exists but new data has been added this season; a first season with all that is to be derived from it being so. We proceed game by game aiming always to achieve the best”.
The Mourouzis honoring
Panathinaikos will be honoring Kostas Mourouzis tomorrow prior to tip-off; a man who led the clover to European success and to 6 Greek League championships over his coaching term with the club. Argyris Pedoulakis also commented on this: “It is a special day for Panathinaikos not only due to an important game to be held but also because a coach who has offered much to Panathinaikos is to be honored. I recall him being a coach, even if only a little. It is a correct gesture because he who forgets his past has no future…”
Numbers
Panathinaikos was the leading team in turnovers for the regular season with a 16.3 average. Up to date in the Top16 it is positioned in 8th place behind 12.3. The three top positions belong to Alba Berlin , Besiktas and CSKA Moscow.
Kostas Tsartsaris is only 5 triples shy of 100 in his Euroleague career.
Stephane Lasme leads Euroleague in blocked shots behind 2 per game.
Dimitris Diamantidis needs only a single steal in order to position himself alone at second place of the respective all time Euroleague list. At the moment his is “roomies”with his 320 steals with Pablo Prigioni. Also he needs only 4 blocks in order to reach 100 in Euroleague.
Sofoklis Schortsanitis had his best game this season across from Real Madrid draining 23 points in 19 minutes game time.
Jonas Maciulis has made at least one trifecta in all 5 of his last Euroleague games. He has been scoring 14-for-26 threes (62.5%) during these encounters. He also needs only 15 points in order to hit 1,000 for his Euroleague career.
For the last 4 Top16 Euroleague games James Gist has been finishing the clash behind at least one blocked shot.
Relations
It always comes in handy to have a Lithuanian “batting” for your team. Panathinaikos' Jonas Maciulis and Real Madrid's Martynas Pocius are fellow Lithuanians and have been teammates on the Lithuanian national team.
