Laso: “The team has proven to be competitive and we lead the Euroleague”
'We'll have to put in a very complete performance, particularly in terms of reading the game very well, if we want to get another win”, said Tavares in the run up to the game.
Real Madrid coach Pablo Laso and Walter Tavares gave their thoughts on the rescheduled EuroLeague match against Unics Kazan at the WiZink Center Tuesday, 8:45pm CET. The coach said ahead of the game: "We're playing every 2 or 3 days due to the break caused by the postponed games, with this being a game that should have been played on Epiphany. We're up against a team that's probably the surprise package in the Euroleague. Nobody at the start of the season would have expected Unics Kazan to be one of the teams at the top of the standings".
"They're playing very good basketball, finding their style of play both defensively and offensively and it's going to be a tough test. They're a team that competes very well, they're very strong physically, very fast, they recover the ball a lot and will force us to be physically and mentally ready in a game that will be different from earlier games, with us back home in the Euroleague and we'll be trying to pick up another win".
Complicated game
"Every Euroleague game is a very dangerous one. We're talking about some of the best teams in Europe. There're no easy games. Everyone has great players. We're talking about a team with two former NBA players, that had minutes, they've got John Brown, who is not as well known, but he's very dynamic and wins back the ball. He scored 20 points the other day in the Russian league game. He's a tough player, a very mobile false centre. They've got good shooters too as well as, of course, Hezonja and O.J. Mayo. They're a very complete team and I think Perasovic has done a great job in figuring out what his team needs. They're having a great season and it's going to be a very tricky game".
"They're playing very good basketball, finding their style of play both defensively and offensively and it's going to be a tough test. They're a team that competes very well, they're very strong physically, very fast, they recover the ball a lot and will force us to be physically and mentally ready in a game that will be different from earlier games, with us back home in the Euroleague and we'll be trying to pick up another win".
Complicated game
"Every Euroleague game is a very dangerous one. We're talking about some of the best teams in Europe. There're no easy games. Everyone has great players. We're talking about a team with two former NBA players, that had minutes, they've got John Brown, who is not as well known, but he's very dynamic and wins back the ball. He scored 20 points the other day in the Russian league game. He's a tough player, a very mobile false centre. They've got good shooters too as well as, of course, Hezonja and O.J. Mayo. They're a very complete team and I think Perasovic has done a great job in figuring out what his team needs. They're having a great season and it's going to be a very tricky game".
Short-term objectives
"The goal is obvious, we have to fight to get into the playoffs. We were fighting until the last day of last season to make the playoffs and we made it. We always set ourselves that objective at the start of the season. After that, the second objective is to finish in the top four and get home-court advantage. That's down to the team's performance over the course of the season and they're doing very well in that respect. They've proven themselves to be competitive and that gives you a sense of calm and at the moment it's we lead the Euroleague, although it's not really significant because there are still a lot of games to play, everyone likes to see themselves at the top".
Tavares: "They're doing a great job in the Euroleague"
"Unics Kazan are playing very well, especially in defence, playing with constant changes which makes them a very awkward team, they've got a lot of pace and take up a lot of space. They've also got a great squad and it's not an accident that they're at the top of the standings. They'are doing well in this Euroleague season and we'll have to put in a very complete performance, particularly in terms of reading the game very well, if we want to get another win".
"The goal is obvious, we have to fight to get into the playoffs. We were fighting until the last day of last season to make the playoffs and we made it. We always set ourselves that objective at the start of the season. After that, the second objective is to finish in the top four and get home-court advantage. That's down to the team's performance over the course of the season and they're doing very well in that respect. They've proven themselves to be competitive and that gives you a sense of calm and at the moment it's we lead the Euroleague, although it's not really significant because there are still a lot of games to play, everyone likes to see themselves at the top".
Tavares: "They're doing a great job in the Euroleague"
"Unics Kazan are playing very well, especially in defence, playing with constant changes which makes them a very awkward team, they've got a lot of pace and take up a lot of space. They've also got a great squad and it's not an accident that they're at the top of the standings. They'are doing well in this Euroleague season and we'll have to put in a very complete performance, particularly in terms of reading the game very well, if we want to get another win".