While Panathinaikos continues its perfect 3-0 start in the EuroLeague, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis also made some… news from the mixed zone.
The Greek guard/forward revealed that Kostas Sloukas is expected to return to practice next week, while also addressing the status of Moustapha Fall, emphasizing that the Frenchman is making excellent progress.
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At the same time, he highlighted this year’s team philosophy, with defense as its key component and an excellent atmosphere in the locker room.
Here’s what he said in detail:
“Especially today, we wrapped up the week in the EuroLeague on a high note. We secured two important wins; we have three in total. We’ve gelled very well, even though we still have three injured players out. The group of ten to eleven players we have right now has gelled very well, with the two lineups the coach is using. We’re playing very well on both defense and offense—especially on defense—and that’s the key element we’ve focused on this year. We start by playing strong defense, and then the offense will follow. We’re very happy and we’re keeping it up. We’re on the right track.”
On the return of injured players: “Yesterday, even though he only played a little (Nigel Hayes-Davis), he was pretty good. He showed what he’s capable of and what he can bring to the team, both defensively and offensively. He’s a player who can read the game and play in the paint. I don’t need to say what he’s capable of. He gave us a boost and helped out, too. As for the rest, I don’t know. I know that Sloukas will return to practice next week. I think Fal is also in very good shape.”
On the team’s lineup once everyone returns: “I don’t know—that’s why we have a coach. He’s, if not the best, one of the best in Europe over the last 25 years. It’s his job, and whatever he says, the rest of us players will follow. We respect him, and he respects us. As I said before, we’re on the right track; our morale is high, and the team chemistry is great. Thank God, everything is going very well within the team.”
On his own performance: “I worked with Sloukas; I sat down with him and he showed me a bit where to pass—inside, outside—how to pass inside and how to pass outside. It’s, as I said after the last game, a team effort. The coach and the whole system want to make the most of all the players, to have the ball pass through the hands of every player, so that helps me, too.”
*photo source: KYPE
