Scariolo: “It’s a game of maximum difficulty, the kind you like to play”

Sergio Scariolo spoke in the preview of the match between Olympiacos and Real Madrid corresponding to round 36 of the EuroLeague, which will be played in Athens (Tuesday, 8:15 pm CEST, #Vamos): “It’s an extremely difficult game, the number one team in the EuroLeague at the moment, with great players. It’s a team where most of the players forming the core have been playing together for a long time, with the same coach, with players who play basketball very well, with great individual talents but also a strong team sense.”

“The goal is to go and play with exactly the same attitude, preparation, and personality that we’ve shown in all away games in recent months, but obviously if we find ourselves in a close finish, to be more precise, sharp, and attentive so that this time we can bring the game to our side.”

What kind of game do you expect?
“A complicated game. In the first leg, we won a game where they were ahead for three quarters, but we held up very well and came out in the last quarter with a great performance, winning with a slight margin at the end, which might help us again. It’s going to be a game of maximum difficulty, the kind you like to play, and the players will be... as always, because I don’t recall an away game where we haven’t come out prepared or played at least 90 percent well or very well. Against a very strong opponent, that alone brings greater difficulty.”

How does the team view the three remaining games?
“Like every athlete, we’re focused on the next game. We’re thinking about tomorrow’s match and playing our best game, knowing our strengths, which have allowed us to go to any court and look any opponent in the eye, as we’ve shown in recent months. And also respecting the opponent’s strength, as they are at the top spot on merit.”

Is there extra motivation because of the nature of the game?
“If you mean because of last year’s playoff elimination, I understand that for those who were here, it might be an extra point of motivation, but this type of game doesn’t need extra motivation. It’s a match of great importance.”

Could there be changes in the approach?
“I’m extremely happy with how the team is playing away from home. Obviously, I’m not happy about losing five games by 1 or 2 points, which is also a coincidence. A referee’s decision, a defensive or offensive mistake, sometimes in the previous minutes you could have done more to avoid it being decided at the end—there are many factors.”

Status of Lyles
“He won’t play normally, but he will be there and travel with the team, and if all goes well, he’ll help us a bit.”

How do you evaluate the final stretch of the season and having all the players healthy?
“I value it greatly. I don’t recall a season with a team of mine where there have been so few muscle injuries, while players have simultaneously had their minutes distributed to stay part of the team. Those who’ve played less in the league have averaged around 14 minutes. It’s an incredible statistic. All of this, of course, with the decisive contribution of the physios, doctors, and trainers, allows us to be physically ready at the right time and in the right condition.”

Would winning the home game be enough to achieve the goal of finishing in the top four?
“We don’t just think about winning the home game; we think about winning all the games ahead of us. We have to aim to win the next one. The calculations are so varied, so complex, so numerous, that we must think that the more games we win, the easier it’ll be for us. The schedule is tough, we’re not going to hide it, but we have to fight to maintain the position we’ve worked for, improved upon, competed for, and held onto for quite some time.”

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.