By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes coach Ergin Ataman implied after Game 4 that the referees let Barcelona play more physical than permitted. “Even the Golden State Warriors could not win here, we will play basketball in Turkey as we have always done,” he said.
“I am happy that there are no injured players, and I do not want to talk about the referees”. After that Ataman left the room.
Barcelona’s coach Svetislav Pesic was asked on the matter and replied: “We played some games against Efes and we congratulate them. I have great respect for what Ataman has done this season. A very modern basketball, with players of high quality and offensive talent. If you ask me, I’m a little surprised. He always has shown great respect to Barça and to me as a coach. It is possible that he didn’t analyze the statistics. I have them here. In the first 20 minutes, 0 free throws for us. Almost 30 minutes without free throws. At the end of the game, 26 free throws for them and we had 9 when the game was already won. He wants to motivate the fans for Istanbul, it’s a tactic. Everyone motivates their team as they need”.