By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid won the first two EuroLeague playoffs games against Panathinaikos and a lot of it had to do with stopping Nick Calathes. The Spaniards forced Calathes out of his comfort zones, especially in Game 2 in which PAO point guard shot 0-11 from the field.
Coach Pablo Laso shared a funny story that his son is a big fan of Calathes and was ‘nagging’ him constantly to focus on stopping him: “He is in love with him, he is. In fact, his words were: ‘You gotta stop Calathes'”, he told EuroLeague Greece through a smile.
Real Madrid boss fulfilled that task but and doesn’t mind at all that his son chose Calathes as a role model. In fact, he supports it: “Yes we did it, probably because I have something in my house telling me that every day. It’s true that Calathes is a player that creates a lot of attention and I have a little kid at home telling me Calathes is a great player. I understand that and I think he is a very good player that can create for his teammates, he can create for himself, he is a very good passer, good defender… So, he is very complete and when I talk to my son I tell him: ‘I wish someday you will play like Calathes'”, Laso said.