Panathinaikos is heading towards Game 3 versus Barcelona and everyone in the clover keeps themselves well grounded, knowing all too well that they have still achieved nothing and that the 1-1 standing in the series secures nothing to anyone. It was something more than apparent in Sofoklis Schortsanitis and Jonas Maciulis’ statements, slightly prior to this evening’s practice.
“We are down to business as usual”, Schortsanitis stressed, only to add: “We are trying to execute all requested from us by our coaches and concentrate at video. We must live up to anything requested from us during the game”.
Sofo understands being highly motivated: “There is not a single athlete to perform at this level who does not want to reach the Final Four. That is the reason, the goal; to get to go all the way. Everyone has this motive and this will. It is the logic behind which we approach each game. Now all we are focusing on is Tuesday’s game. We are at 1-1, we want two more wins and then we’ll see what will happen”.
Sofo also made reference to Barcelona’s dynamic and to the game’s “musts”: “Barcelona is a very good and strong team. It has been together for years. But if we take the game down the road we hope in defense and do all our coaches instruct us, I believe that we will have no issue. We are performing at the OAKA but this secures us nothing. The series is dangerous and we must not make mistakes. The fact that Barcelona was defeated in the Spanish League means nothing. On the contrary, it makes it even more dangerous. That’s life. One moment you’re happy, the other … you are summiting to the ground. Barcelona has very experienced players who know all too well what it is they must do. They will be coming over here to do what they must and we must measure up and have our responses handy”.
Maciulis: “Winning is the only thing on our mind”
Jonas Maciulis is one of the players who can either make a strong presence in a game, like back then with a 5-for-5 three point shooting range in the clash versus Bamberg or be a silent smooth operator as he has done in encounter after encounter up to date this season. The Lithuanian forward made it all too clear that the only thing Panathinaikos will have in mind stepping out on the court will be victory: “Winning is the only thing on our mind. We want to perform well and see what will come of it. Barcelona is not coming out here to lose, something we are well aware of. We are prepared to give it our all in order to win, because we might have got the series to 1-1 but this alone, stands for nothing”. The Lithuanian player admitted that Panathinaikos had more time to rest, since no Greek League games took place: “We had more days to work than Barcelona, but for us the best way to rest is… sleep. Our coaches are well aware of what we must do in every department and that is what we follow through with. Barcelona competed during the weekend, something that is certainly not to its advantage. We are more rested and this might be beneficial for us. We are also a younger team than Barcelona and this might also play a part in the matter”.
Still on the same subject, Maciulis stood in favor of HEBA’s decision not to have encounters during the playoffs: “We got the chance to rest. These are important details which might assist us. And certainly getting to not play in the Greek League is a splendid decision which really helps us out”.
Euroleague to Athens
A Euroleague delegation will be in Athens for both Panathinaikos versus Barcelona encounters at the OAKA, since BC President, Dimitris Giannakopoulos’ invitation was accepted.
Numbers
Panathinaikos was the best defensive team in the Top16 round, allowing its opponents to 69.1 points per game. It was also the team to make the most three pointers (129) through the phase.
Jonas Maciulis remains the only Panathinaikos player to have been on the starter list in all of the team’s Euroleague games this season. The Lithuanian Forward and Mike Bramos are the only players to have played in all games given.
Dimitris Diamantidis is coming up for second place in Euroleague’s assist all-time list. He has 797, one less than Pablo Prigioni.
The Panathinaikos captain needs only a single blocked shot in order to become the first guard in the history of the league ever to have reached 100.
Kostas Tsartsaris is only a triple shy of 100 for his Euroleague career.
Mike Bramos has made at least one triple in 8-out of-9 of Panathinaikos’ last Euroleague games and has made at least one in his last six.
Relations
Sarunas Jasikevicius, Dimitris Diamantidis and Kostas Tsartsaris have been teammates and have conquered together a European championship (2009), three Greek Leagues and three Greek Cups.
Roko Leni Ukic and Erazem Lorbek were teammates in Lottomatica Roma for the 2007-08 season.
Mike Bramos and C.J. Wallace were teammates in Gran Canaria in the 2010-11 season.
James Gist has been teammates with Nate Jaway in Partizan Belgrade for the 2010-11 season. They conquered the Adriatic League and the Serbian double together.PHOTOS
