Laso: “Panathinaikos is a complete team that is playing without the pressure of the standings”
'After securing our place in the playoffs and home-court advantage, we're now aiming for second place', he added.
Pablo Laso spoke at the press conference about the EuroLeague round 33 match against Panathinaikos, which will be played this Thursday 8pm CET. The coach commended the opponent: 'I watched them play yesterday and my first impression is that they're playing without the pressure of the league standings. We're talking about great players. We've already achieved our first two targets, to be in the top eight and to have home-court advantage, but we're now aiming for second place.
'The only certainty is that Barcelona will finish first. The other teams are fighting for a spot. We're not interested in overthinking things, we're committed to doing as well as we can'.
Players out
'Taylor and Causeur returned last week, but we've lost Randolph and Hanga, they won't be travelling. Abalde is getting better and better but he's not travelling either. We're taking twelve players who've trained well over the last two days'.
'The only certainty is that Barcelona will finish first. The other teams are fighting for a spot. We're not interested in overthinking things, we're committed to doing as well as we can'.
Players out
'Taylor and Causeur returned last week, but we've lost Randolph and Hanga, they won't be travelling. Abalde is getting better and better but he's not travelling either. We're taking twelve players who've trained well over the last two days'.
The opponent
'Panathinaikos have made a lot of changes since the first half of the season. Their two main players are Papapetrou and Nedovic, along with Sant-Roos, who can do a bit of everything. In terms of inside, Papagiannis is their most important player. They're a dangerous side in open court with Macon and Nedovic, who can be a bit unpredictable. We can't allow them to run. They're a complete team who've taken a lot of punishment in the competition'.
State of the team
'We worked very well until December, but after that we were hit by Covid, we had a lot of ins and outs and we've had a very tough three months. I'm happy overall, though. We went in to the Copa del Rey after having played three games a week for the previous three weeks. I'm optimistic for what lies ahead'.
'Panathinaikos have made a lot of changes since the first half of the season. Their two main players are Papapetrou and Nedovic, along with Sant-Roos, who can do a bit of everything. In terms of inside, Papagiannis is their most important player. They're a dangerous side in open court with Macon and Nedovic, who can be a bit unpredictable. We can't allow them to run. They're a complete team who've taken a lot of punishment in the competition'.
State of the team
'We worked very well until December, but after that we were hit by Covid, we had a lot of ins and outs and we've had a very tough three months. I'm happy overall, though. We went in to the Copa del Rey after having played three games a week for the previous three weeks. I'm optimistic for what lies ahead'.