Giorgos Bartzokas addressed both the Tyler Dorsey situation and Olympiacos’s away game against Barcelona in the 6th round of the EuroLeague.
The “Red-and-Whites’” coach prioritized the team over any individual player, while emphasizing the need for focus on the game plan and better energy management during the match.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In detail:
On Dorsey: “You know, generally speaking, I never speak ill of anyone who has worn the Olympiacos jersey, and I won’t do so now either. We have to understand that the team comes first, and I have to embody that more than anyone else. I’ll obviously focus on the players who are here. We’ll try to do the best we can, and we’ll see how things unfold—not as I dictate, but as the management decides.”
On how he’s approaching the match: “We’re approaching it with the necessary seriousness. We had one more day to rest a bit more and prepare better against a team that has changed its philosophy in the sense that it’s athletic and plays fast, like Virtus. We need to do better than we did against Virtus and in the first half against Valencia. We have to stay focused on the game plan.”
On the game against Valencia: “A basketball game in Europe is faster-paced; there are a lot of ups and downs. The key is to be cohesive in what we do as a team. We had a rough first half and an amazing second. The big picture is that we’re constantly playing on the road and we have four wins. The competition demands that we approach every game with seriousness. There are a lot of games; you might see some surprises in the team’s performance.”
On the topic of energy: “We did what we had to do. We’re in good shape. Rotation will play an important role. There were players against Valencia who played 25 consecutive minutes. We need to make substitutions more frequently during the game.”
On Montero: “It was an important test for him to play against his former team. It’s not that easy. Most players handle it the wrong way and take it personally, wanting to prove their worth. He had exactly the right approach. He had the patience to steer the game where he wanted it to go, and kudos to him.”
*photo source: KYPE
