Scariolo: “We are all aware of the importance of the game”

Sergio Scariolo spoke ahead of the Real Madrid-Red Star game, corresponding to round 38 of the EuroLeague (Thursday, 8:45 pm CEST; #Vamos): “We are all aware of the importance of the game. It is the last one of the regular season. It has already been a good result to qualify directly for the playoffs, and now we want to take one more step and try to win this last game.”

“The fact that we have won almost every game at home is no guarantee of winning tomorrow's game as well. The opponent deserves a lot of respect for their talent. They have players with top-level ability in this competition. They also have a very good physical and defensive structure, and we must remember the game in Belgrade at the start of the competition. We were a different team, and so were they, but the memory of certain matchups and situations where we didn’t perform well and they beat us clearly still lingers. The most important thing tomorrow is to have strong support from our fans.”

The fans
“It’s a game where we know there will be a strong and loud representation of the opponent's fans, and that should motivate our fans even more. They have been able to enjoy an almost unparalleled season of their team at home. I am sure they will do everything possible to be a factor of support in the last game.”

What do you want to see from your team?
“We have earned, through an excellent regular season, the right to depend on ourselves to be in one of the top positions. From there, consistency is one thing, and being at 100% in a game is another. I wouldn't label this game as a final because then there’s the playoff. Obviously, it’s better to win it, but it’s not decisive, nor is home-court advantage. The team has been playing well in recent months, with great cohesion and consistency. Being a great team means being able to compete in every game with a chance to win. In recent months, only in the game in Athens did an opponent outplay us, and that is thanks to our seriousness, preparation, organization, and effort.”

Would you have signed up for this situation in September?
“101%, without any doubt. I did not know beforehand the great difference in competitiveness of this EuroLeague compared to previous ones. It has been by far the most competitive and challenging ever.”

Preferences for the playoff
“We have done a great job, and we need to finish it. That means achieving a great result and being among the top three. It’s a good situation to avoid overthinking. We need to win the game and see what we get the next day without complicating things and focusing our energy on facing it against an opponent who also has a lot at stake.”

How is the team at this stage?
“In terms of standings, we are doing extremely well; in terms of gameplay, there is always room for improvement. There are areas we are working on. With so little time to train, the opportunities to improve the quality of players' gameplay are very limited. We have had a high-quality level of basketball, but everything is improvable.”

Opponent
“It is a team that attacks very well in the first seconds. They are very good in one-on-one situations. They always have three or four players capable of attacking the rim, and they are also a team with good shooting. They have strong defensive records, with the ability to protect their paint well with very good shot-blockers. If you don’t move them and don’t play as a team, it’s hard to attack them.”

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