Chus Mateo: “The demands of the playoffs are sky high and we're ready”
“We have a very important game in front of our fans and we have to start strongly,' stressed the coach.
Chus Mateo appeared in the press room ahead of the team's first EuroLeague playoff game against Partizan, set for this Tuesday at the WiZink Center 8:45pm CEST: “We're going to focus on the first game. It would be absurd to think about a three or five-game series because all sorts of things come into play and the dynamic is crucial. We have an important game in front of our fans and we have to be focused and start strongly."
“Everyone is aware where we are, possibly the toughest, most demanding spell of the season. I hope we give it everything in every match and that we stick together because there will be some difficult moments. The demands of a EuroLeague playoff are sky high and these are the times when we have to stick together more than ever."
Calendar
“I'm not getting into that now. We have a hugely important game coming up and that would be distracting. We're not thinking about whether the team should have played on Saturday or on Sunday morning. The team is in good shape, they've recovered from our efforts against Joventut, and they're ready. That's what gives me confidence. The team has recovered physically and everyone is at 100%.
Poirier
“We'll see how he goes. Appendicitis is not a small issue, he underwent surgery only recently. He's following a recovery program. Of course, he won't be with us for the first game but I don't know how he will progress. The players make a tremendous effort and sometimes it's just impossible to shorten the recovery times. Everyone wants to be playing and they will do all they can to be 100% fit, Poirier included.”
“Everyone is aware where we are, possibly the toughest, most demanding spell of the season. I hope we give it everything in every match and that we stick together because there will be some difficult moments. The demands of a EuroLeague playoff are sky high and these are the times when we have to stick together more than ever."
Calendar
“I'm not getting into that now. We have a hugely important game coming up and that would be distracting. We're not thinking about whether the team should have played on Saturday or on Sunday morning. The team is in good shape, they've recovered from our efforts against Joventut, and they're ready. That's what gives me confidence. The team has recovered physically and everyone is at 100%.
Poirier
“We'll see how he goes. Appendicitis is not a small issue, he underwent surgery only recently. He's following a recovery program. Of course, he won't be with us for the first game but I don't know how he will progress. The players make a tremendous effort and sometimes it's just impossible to shorten the recovery times. Everyone wants to be playing and they will do all they can to be 100% fit, Poirier included.”
Obradovic
“He is an idol for everyone. I have watched him train since I was young and I was even here with him when I was in the academy and he was winning the European Cup with Real Madrid in 1995. But ultimately it's about the team playing well, having no doubts and everyone pulling in the same direction. The players are the stars of the show."
Tavares' situation
“We know how important he is to the team. It's obvious where many of the opposition attacks are going to be focused. We speak a lot among ourselves and try to improve certain things. We feel it when he doesn't play as much as perhaps we would like him to but I'm convinced Tavares will have a fantastic playoff. He fills us all with such confidence, he always works hard and he'll perform at his best. He's a crucial player."
Partizan
“They have real point-scoring ability and have very talented players one-on-one. They have some great plays in offense but they concede a lot of points as well. They play for possession a lot of the time and have a very deep squad. That's where success lies for us, if we're able to be consistent in defending one-on-one and not lose too many balls in offense. We have to rebound well and not give away easy baskets."
“He is an idol for everyone. I have watched him train since I was young and I was even here with him when I was in the academy and he was winning the European Cup with Real Madrid in 1995. But ultimately it's about the team playing well, having no doubts and everyone pulling in the same direction. The players are the stars of the show."
Tavares' situation
“We know how important he is to the team. It's obvious where many of the opposition attacks are going to be focused. We speak a lot among ourselves and try to improve certain things. We feel it when he doesn't play as much as perhaps we would like him to but I'm convinced Tavares will have a fantastic playoff. He fills us all with such confidence, he always works hard and he'll perform at his best. He's a crucial player."
Partizan
“They have real point-scoring ability and have very talented players one-on-one. They have some great plays in offense but they concede a lot of points as well. They play for possession a lot of the time and have a very deep squad. That's where success lies for us, if we're able to be consistent in defending one-on-one and not lose too many balls in offense. We have to rebound well and not give away easy baskets."