By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos’ head coach David Blatt didn’t hold back when he was asked about the windows FIBA inserted in the winter schedule for the World Cup qualifiers. During the last one ahead of the 2019 World Cup, Janis Strelnieks was injured forcing the Reds to continue their 2018-19 campaign without the 29-year-old Latvian guard. The 59-year-old coach discussed the issue ahead of the EuroLeague Regular Season Round 24 home match against CSKA Moscow.
Blatt mentioned: “I’ve spoken on that on more than one occasion. This is a problem that can affect all teams in Europe. In this case, it’s affecting us and it’s not the first time”. As he explained: “What disturbs me the most is that we have been open-minded and helpful to the National Team’s programs understanding that the games are important to the players themselves. We send players to the National Team and we suddenly we see them playing 38 or 39 minutes in the game, which they don’t even do in a EuroLeague game”.
In conclusion, he said: “It makes you wonder want kind of respect and what kind of understanding we’re getting from the other side, the National Team programs. I think it’s terribly irresponsible. I think it’s dangerous to the player. It’s damaging obviously to the team. There isn’t much I can do about it except for me to tell you that I think it’s a lousy thing. Those that are responsible for it should know it”.