Panathinaikos will face Anadolu Efes tomorrow (17/1, 21.45) for Euroleague, Top16, Day 3. Argyris Pedoulakis and Ramel Curry referred to the game, paying no attention on their opponents' 0-2 record in this second phase of the competition.
"It doesn't really matter if our record is 2/2 or if they have 0/2. It's a Marathon, a whole new different "league" and it's tough for every single team. The presence of Vaggelis Aggelou is something exceptional for Greek basketball. Greek coaches enjoy the respect abroad. This makes us happy and we are looking forward to acknowledge us the same in Greece too. We have to be careful on the court. We made a deposit last week in Vitoria, but in order to "collect" this week and not waste an away victory, we have to win at home. We have to be really focused, to play with energy, we must not be disorientated, because I read and listen a lot of things about Monday's game against Olympiacos. For us tomorrow's game is really important. Monday's game is not a final. It's an important game, both teams want to win, but all our focus and energy must be on the game against Anadolu Efes. This is the game we are working on. We are facing a team which has good players and well-known names on its roster. It's a team which tries to play a lot with Erden, to post the ball and in general they play one on one. We will try to respond with a team game".
When asked about the affect the change Anadolu Efes made regarding the coaching staff Pedoulakis replied: "It's like... Pythia... Everything has something positive and something negative. The positive thing is when there is such a change there is euphoria and everybody tries harder, wanting to prove that was have happened up to the point, doesn't exist anymore. On the other way it's difficult for a team to have a flow on their game, like it did with the previous coach, because the new one, needs time".
Pedoulakis gave the following answer when asked about Panathinaikos' defense, and if the team can get better: "It's not a matter of getting better. We forgot to look for the simple things and we are looking for the more complex ones. And we have missed some of our players, like Ukic for example, who still hurts and he basically practices once a week. And now we have Lasme back. We work all together. Players who were important for our defense were out. Regarding the last game against Laboral Kutxa, the game is alive. You don't know what you will face. Against Apollon Patras we wanted to give time to our younger players, we have talked about that during the meeting. It was not possible. Against Laboral Kutxa Pappas committed two fouls in one minute. The game evolves and you have to change the way you approach it during the 40 minutes".
Pedoulakis was asked if the fact that Panathinaikos will face Olympiacos on Monday, keeps the players focused, replied: "It helps the focus of the team but it doesn't help on the work we want to do. These are huge, important, back to back games. It doesn't help in our energy. We believe that this is going to take away some of our energy, because the team concentrates more in Euroleague. On the week we played Maccabi Tel Aviv and then against Olympiacos for the Greek Cup, we practiced really hard prior to the game against Maccabi and in the second half we collapsed. This happened because our goal was the Greek Cup semifinal. Now the coaching plan has changed. We have three games in a row (Anadolu Efes, Olympiacos, Fenerbahce/Ulker) and energy will be an important factor. The fact that both teams play the Top16 doesn't help them. It disorients them and most importantly it takes the energy away. I don't want to hide behind my finger. The game against Olympiacos is always different for us accordingly to the way we approach things in our country; taking things to the edge and being incredibly sentimental can lead the team out of its way. We try not to let this happen, but the atmosphere around us the family, the friends, it's there. I wish this game was later in our schedule. It would be better for both teams. Olympiacos has a difficult game tonight and then they play against us on Monday. The same goes for us. The later the better for all of us. I think both teams have changed".
Ramel Curry referred to the game against Anadolu Efes: "Every game is crucial. We have to approach the game the way we did with the games against Armani Milano and Laboral Kutxa and led us to 2-0. I hope for a good game here in OAKA. Maybe Anadolu Efes will be a little bit different, because of the Greek philosophy of the new coach, but we are prepared. If we do what we know and we do it right, we'll be fine. About me? I will continue to work hard, hoping that this work will bring something positive to the team. Panathinaikos is a great team with great personalities. If we continue like this, we'll be fine!"
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