By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Kostas Papanikolaou in the last two games of Top16 had 10/10 three pointers and this something not usual, specially in Euroleague. He was the MVP but he can’t just rest on his laurels as Anadolu Efes is coming.
The Greek forward who has a contract with Olympiacos until the summer of 2014 – with an NBA buy out this summer worth one million euros – speaks to Eurohoops about the Turkish club, which he respects and according to him everything will be decided by defense.
“We have to play good defense for 40 minutes. We have enough talend in offense, we have players who can score, create and make things happen. Really good defense can make the difference in this level and that what separates the good teams from the really great teams, the ones capable of going all the way. We have to improve in defense and if that happens, then we believe that everything will go our way”.
Papanikolaou considers Anadolu Efes one of the most talented teams in Euroleague and expects a hard series of games: “They have many good players. They have a lot of talent, players that are very experienced in the European top level, but also some others with a respectable NBA career”.
There’s only one secret at this point and according to “Pap” every player should be ready to give 100%: “There is a trap and we must be careful. We must be focused every time in the individual game that’s before us, starting with Wednesday’s encounter. Even if we win by 20 points, or lose by 30, we must be ready for the next game without being affected in any way. After all, the point difference doesn’t mean anything in those games. We have to treat every game like it’s a final and after the end of it, forget everything quickly”.
Eurohoops proved with numbers that it’s not easy in Euroleague for the home teams in the best of five series to get a 2-0 start. Papanikolaou agrees: “It’s very difficult to win the same team two times in 48 hours in this level. Those teams have ambitions, self confidence, skills and pride. Every one wants to be in the Final Four. Our goal against Efes is not to win two times in Athens, but to get three wins and the qualification”.