By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The first “clasico” of the new Spanish League season will take place tomorrow at the “Palau Blaugrana” where Barcelona is hosting Real Madrid. The Catalan team’s head coach Giorgos Bartzokas understands perfectly that this game is completely different from the Supercup semifinal, in which his team had prevailed.
“Real Madrid is the favorite,” he said during today’s press conference ahead of the derby. “Even with a full squad, it’s difficult to win against them. We have nine injuries so far this season and it’s no longer about the players who are available, but the ones who have been playing since the beginning.”
Defending and its direct influence his team’s offense, is the key, according to the Greek coach. “We must play together and fight. It’s important how defend because our offensive transition begins on defense. It’s important for the whole season, but especially tomorrow. If you let an offensive team like Real Madrid play their game, it’s very hard to beat them.”
Yesterday Barcelona announced the addition of American big guy Jonathan Holmes. “He plays with energy, he sacrifices himself for victory, he’s versatile and I can play as a power forward or a center. Sometimes even small forward.”
But Holmes is not the only new player that the Spanish team might acquire since in light of Pau Ribas’ season-ending injury, a guard is also needed. “We have always eyes on the market, especially for perimeter players. Holmes is an American so we now have to find a player with a European passport. It’s not easy to find one, especially someone fit for the level of Barcelona. We cannot compete with six or seven players in our rotation when we play two or three games per week,” mentioned Bartzokas.