By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Stephan Lasme got the award of Euroleague’s best defender and he didn’t hide his fulfillment from this personal achievement. The American center spoke to paobc.gr about this honor and also about his small revenge against Diamantidis.
– What does this award means to you?
“I feel good, really good… It’s good your effort to be recognized and I want to thank everyone who voted for me. I have to admit that I didn’t expect it. Probably I did expected my first season in Euroleague (ed.note: 2008-09), but Diamantidis got the title back then”.
– This year Diamantidis finished second. Can this be considered a little revenge for you? Are you going to tease him with your award?
“(Laughs) Revenge? Yes, yes… But I am not going to tease him. I will just give him a look and he will understands (laughs again). I know Dimitis is happy for me. This is something I really know. After all playing together helps us both. When you play with him, everything is easier. He is really bright! I also try to help him too. He know I will be there”.
– What gives you pleasure in defense?
“I really enjoy stopping someone in midair. I enjoy the fact that someone will not get easy to our basket. It really gives me pleasure. Also the fact that every block means something for our team. It means that we have avoided a basket”.
– What is defense? Talent, instinct, athletic abilities…
“Will! Nothing more, nothing less. You must want to play defense. You should want to play defense”.
– Which is your favorite block from this season?
“I would say the block on Navarro in Game 2 of the play offs against Barcelona. I must say that I didn’t remembered it just after the end of the game, because that was not the last play of the game. There was some time left. So, after the block, I got up and focused again in the game. So, I did kind of forgot it. After a while, I saw the photographs from the play, I read everything that was written about it (laughs). But when the game is still played, you don’t have time to think about something like that”.
– Where do you want to dedicate this award?
“To my teammates! Without them, I wouldn’t get this award, no matter what I did. Defense is a team work”.