BARCELONA, 23 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça coach, Roger Grimau, commented before the start of the Euroleague ‘Playoffs’ against Olympiacos that, given that his team has earned the right to have the court factor in its favor, the Palau Blaugrana is “decisive” in the first two games and be able to go to Piraeus with a 2-0 lead, although he believes that the series could be long.
“I hope that the Palau will be decisive. We have been very comfortable at home all season. We have done a very good balance. We have deservedly won the court factor. I hope we can take advantage of it. They are nice games and it is a great incentive to have the people of our side,” he said at a press conference.
“They are Euroleague ‘Playoffs’, with everything that entails. We prepare them by analyzing the maximum of their games, what they have done against us and seeing if we are surprised or continue playing the same. There is always room for small modifications but the basis of the two teams will be what they are,” he said.
However, despite having won both matches in the Regular Phase, they do not believe it will be a short series. “I try to give the game as much normality as possible knowing that it is a series, that it will be hard and that many times the series fluctuate. Once we play tomorrow we will see if we change many things or not. We both have things in the bedroom depending on how they go things,” he explained.
Regarding the added value of having Ricky Rubio, he recalled that Barça “always wants to have the best.” “Ricky from the first day gives us peace and tranquility, that know-how of someone who has so much experience. He is a player who gives us a lot both in attack and defense. Having Ricky is always positive,” he celebrated.
At the injury level, he celebrated having the team in good shape, ready for this physical and tactical battle, “We are fine, physically fine, with the small discomforts that we all have but nothing significant. I am satisfied, happy to be where we are. We are prepared to compete “he assured.
And Olympiacos’ defensive strength stood out. “Defensively they are very solid, especially in five-on-five. They are physical, they collapse the paint and don’t allow easy shots. They are the team that best passes the ball on offense, with a lot of patience to find the best options,” he said. .
“We have to be defensively solid to try to play in transition, play fast and have the right patience to find the best possible shot. They are good one-on-one,” he added, in this sense.
As for the rival’s losses, at the moment it appears that former Blaugrana Papanikolau and Walkup could be injured. “We are playing against a team with a good roster, with great players. We expect them all to be there and that is how we have prepared it. If they are not there, those who will replace him are also high-level players,” he said.
2024-04-23 15:39:36
#hope #Palau #decisive
