Panathinaikos hosted the Media representatives on court today, for Turkish Airlines Euroleague Media Day. All players spoke to the Press and of course on Euroleague’s camera.
Argyris Pedoulakis made reference to substitutions, but also to the matter of signing on a player in order to cover the gap left by Roko Leni Ukic’s injury for approximately six weeks.
*As far as the team’s goals: “We are not looking so far ahead. We are not focusing on the end of the year. We have only been all together for three days. Due to the EuroBasket we were missing quite a few team members. We have just committed our first preseason games, where we spotted our weaknesses, what it is we must remedy. Time is relentless. We have a tough season ahead of us, we have trainings never committed, injuries, we have an entire Euroleague round to perform on the road. We always state that we take it one game at a time, but we should rather be taking it one minute at a time. It is impossible to be making remarks concerning the end of the season, unless we first get to see all our players out on the floor together”.
As far as the roster: “It is true that the roster was fixed quite early, but the players did not come early. We are functioning and players a different kind of basketball, with more mind in it and we want time in order to become one. It takes time for you to become a team. And we must live with it, with the difficulties we are faced with at the moment”.
As far as Ukic: “Ukic came in a dreadful state. Thankfully for the guy, nothing tragic happened for him to be now faced with a worst injury. He was lucky. 11 games in an 18 day span are way too many, it is like a Roman arena and the players must do something about it. During the winter the team that will advance will be playing approximately 80 encounters. They have to perform many-many games throughout the season. Many guys are unable to perform because they have been competing for consecutive years at a very high level and the manner in which they go through this process is one that I personally do not believe protects them”.
*As far as how successful the signing period was: “We had said also at the Press Conference at the end of the Championship that we primarily wished to honor the guys that trusted us and aided towards the Panathinaikos name remaining at its high stature, although the budget dropped. We maintained this backbone; we also aspired to add a Greek element hence we brought along 4 Greek players plus Mike Batiste who we view as a Greek, since he knows the Greek campaigns and Panathinaikos after being so many years on the team. There are also the young guys, in order for there to be a continuance. So the three main lines we had set were followed during the signing period behind a great effort on behalf of the administration, in comparison to the facts of the… new Greece we are living in since 2010”.
*As far as if a player is to be brought on due to Ukic’s injury: “Roko is a mighty important part of our game, especially in backcourt, because he will be assigned to the opponent’s best creator. Only few guys taller than 1.95 can perform in Roko’s position and could be immediately incorporated into the team. So, even if we do get someone, he will bear no resemblance to Ukic. And our obligations are up and running. We have few training sessions, many games and I do not thing that it would be any kind of assistance if we acquired a player right now. He will be unable to help. I actually believe that he would more likely mix us up”.
*As far as if for example Pappas could possibly help: “I am very pleased in the effort he is applying. I am very pleased in the efforts of Pappas, Jankovic but also Charalampopoulos. They have talent, but other things are necessary in order for them to be able to take it to the next level. They need to get experience. They must work hard in the defensive department. All three of them are scorers and on many occasions when a player is describe as such, he gets trapped in the description and fails to develop, fails to step up, fails to compete for great teams. We have such examples in the past. We have all been helping them out in order for them to be able to participate in the Greek basketball’s day after. And for their own good, it would be fitting to allow them to work focused on the new effort they are attempting”.
D. Diamantidis: “Better than expected”
Dimitris Diamantidis had his own-large-chunk of statements. The Panathinaikos leader spoke about the season past, about tomorrow, but also about the return of the… regulars.
As far as if last season rested better that what he had expected when it was commencing: “It certain ended better than expected if we want to be honest. The team, after the Greek Cup final against Olympiacos showed signs of improvement, obtained a mentality lead, believed in itself, managed to conquer the Championship and the Cup and in Euroleague it missed out on qualifying to the competition’s Final Four in a single game and across from a mighty good team. So yes… The season turned out much better than expected”.
As far as the returns of Fotsis-Batiste and the rest of the signings: “We added some guys to our roster, the team is good, but this-as always-is something that remains to be proven out on court. Fotsis and Batiste were on the team for many years, they know the philosophy and I believe that they will really help us out, plus the fact that they are exceptional players, as are all who came along and we expected a great deal from them. But yet again I will say the same thing: A good team is one that proves its merits out on the field”.
*As far as the team’s goals: “In the Greek League and the Greek Cup our goals are granted and everyone knows them. In Euroleague what we want to do is take it one step at a time in order to see where we might reach”.
