Five games are scheduled today in EuroLeague Round 11. From the Tel Aviv derby to Olimpia Milan-Zalgiris, plus Olympiacos-Dubai, Valencia-Bayern and Real Madrid-Crvena Zvezda, here are all the pregame comments.
Maccabi Tel Aviv-Hapoel Tel Aviv
Oded Kattash: “A lot of things will be similar to Monday’s game against Hapoel, but there will be different rosters and lineups, which naturally means different tactical elements. Hapoel has more options because of its very deep roster.”
Will Rayman: “It’s definitely a different and bigger roster than in the domestic game, where only five foreigners can be registered. In EuroLeague they can use all of them, but so can we. It’s a derby, so it’s going to be tough.”
Olympiacos-Dubai Basketball
Georgios Bartzokas: “Dubai is a strong and dangerous team. To get the result we want, we need to improve our playmaking and execution. We also need to be patient, move the ball better and avoid rushing decisions.”
Nikola Milutinov: “Mfiondu Kabengele is an incredible player and one of the best big men in Europe, but Dubai has many other quality players. We may not have been as good offensively lately, but we have improved defensively.”
Xavi Pascual: “We are facing the winners of the competition, a team with amazing players and incredible basketball knowledge. It will be a huge challenge, but we are ready to compete and execute our game plan. Winning here is extremely difficult, but we will try.”
Dzanan Musa: “Olympiacos is a one-of-a-kind team, always at the top of European basketball. We need to start hard and control the rebounds in the first five minutes. We’re not afraid of anyone. We respect everybody, but we have shown we can beat anybody.”
Valencia Basket-Bayern Munich
Xavi Albert: “We’re really looking forward to being back home. It has been two very intense weeks and all the travel has taken its toll. Bayern is a dangerous team with great shooters and probably the best off-ball movement in the EuroLeague. We need to be fully prepared.”
Dylan Osetkowski: “We’ve had four games on the road and we’re excited to be back in front of our fans. Bayern has a great young coach, very good guards and solid bigs. We want to keep building our defensive identity and let that flow into our offense.”
Anton Gavel: “Valencia is still one of the best offensive teams in the EuroLeague. Our defense has to do a good job for all 40 minutes. It’s not only about stopping Shorts. Denying easy points is a task for the whole team.”
Rokas Jokubaitis: “Valencia plays very fast and is one of the quickest teams in Europe. We have to sprint back and slow down their transition. Defense has to be our priority, and stopping TJ Shorts is our first mission.”
Olimpia Milan-Zalgiris Kaunas
Luca Banchi: “We are two teams coming off completely opposite stretches. Zalgiris has found consistency and won its last four games with a solid and well-organized system. We need to compete because we urgently have to reverse the momentum that has pushed us into a position in the standings that does not match our expectations.”
Tomas Masiulis: “We’re facing a team that has just changed coaches, so it will definitely be difficult. After a coaching change, teams usually play with more energy and intensity. We cannot underestimate Milan because their position in the standings does not reflect the way they have been playing.”
Real Madrid-Crvena Zvezda
Pedro Martinez: “Crvena Zvezda is playing sensationally on defense and has great offensive rhythm. They have a lot of defensive variety, playmakers like Chris Jones and Tyson Carter, and they have just added Christian Koloko. They are one of the best teams in the competition and have won seven of their last eight.”
Max Shulga: “We have to be ready for a very physical game. They have very good scorers, but we cannot abandon our own style. The fact that they allow the fewest points does not really change our game plan.”
Ibon Navarro: “It will be a very tough game. Real Madrid has a different DNA. They always know how to compete and if you relax for a few minutes, they can destroy you. Anything can happen in Madrid until the final second.”
Navarro also confirmed that Johnathan Motley is out with a virus, while Vojin Medarevic has a fever.
David Kramer: “We know Real Madrid is a great team. It will be a high-intensity game and we need to stay focused from the first to the 40th minute. We’re not thinking about seven wins in eight games, just about the next game.”
Commenta
Visualizza commenti