Panathinaikos will be hosting Khimki tomorrow (November 9, 21.00) in Euroleague game 5. Argyris Pedoulakis spoke at the Press Conference held this afternoon at the OAKA indoor arena.
“We have a significant game ahead of us. We must illustrate character because it is a team that establishes its pace through its game. It likes to run. Main organizer is Planinic who goes for many pick n rolls either in a set offense or off secondary fast breaks. Loncar is the main element at low post to either create of finish up plays. There are also great shooters the likes of Rivers and Fridzon who can execute either in a set game or on a fast break. They shoot at free will, get quite good range, make good choices in offense and are very balanced in defense and we must control their outbreaks”.
Pedoulakis as far as the state of the team answered: “We made a big mistake. We underestimated the Greek League. The Greek League has loads of tactics. It needs mind, concentration and energy and we paid for it. You live, you learn”.
When asked about Hilton Armstrong he stressed: “There is much discussion… It is clear that we are searching for something to help us. From then on, with this discussion about only one part of the team which doesn’t even have so much participation at the moment you gain nothing. You mostly get disoriented”.
About if a player is in quest and about how hard it is to seek out the appropriate player at the moment, he answered: “It is a synthesis of issues. One issue is to establish the appropriate player on the market while certain economical facts exist. It is not easy. We are searching for certain characteristics mainly as far as shooting skills. It is crystal clear. The market is closed and the economical facts have changed. It is not like it was in the past. The targets are specific. We want a guy who can help us get a larger numbers of players who can aid the team and expand the rotation in order for us to begin to show stability on the charts, so the team’s performance ceases to vary so much. Let us not forget that certain guys are already at a first turning point as far as their stamina something only logical and we need the help of more players yet. We need guys to support us through this rough spot”.
About the reaction in tomorrow’s clash: “What I want is for us to keep focused and have more energy. I do not want us to be suffering such a score distance from the first rotations. It is something we pay for, like in the game against Real Madrid or like it has happened in encounters we actually won like versus Cantu or even Aris”.
To an observation that Khimki is a team with a greater assist-turnover analogy and how he is planning to face it, he answered: “Every statistical number masks something else. It is true, but it happens because it plays continuously with three guard formations. This provides it with the advantage you mentioned. It means that with this option it misses out in some other departments, as it is only expected. It is a team that runs well, fills all four corners, shoots on a fast break but has other weaknesses”.
