Scariolo: “The match against Crvena Zvezda will be very demanding”
“We have to stay focused and play hard for the full 40 minutes,” Tavares said ahead of the game against Crvena Zvezda.
Scariolo and Tavares spoke in the build-up to the Crvena Zvezda-Real Madrid game, on matchday five of the EuroLeague, which will be played at the Belgrade Arena (Friday, 7 pm CEST). The coach had this to say: “We're going to one of the toughest courts to play on because of the pressure from the crowd. Plus, our opponents are in great form. We know it's going to be a very demanding match.”
“We're seeing improvements at the collective level. We have to be able to stay focused throughout the match. There may be bad moments, but we must restrict their duration. We need more and more consistency, but that doesn't mean that our opponents don't have moments when they're better. Not all [scoring] runs are the same. It's something we need to work on, and it's magnified away from home because of the pressure of the environment, the refereeing and opponents who come out braver and make it more difficult. It's a good match to improve in that sense.”
The opposition
“They've won two very good matches, away at Fenerbahçe and against the leaders, Zalgiris, by playing very well, showing great solidity and toughness, and with their most talented and experienced players at the forefront. With a new coach, Sasha Obradovic, they'll be using different systems.”
Tavares: “We need to put in a complete performance”
“We can expect a tough atmosphere in Belgrade. We need to take that extra step to win an away game. To do that, we need to put in a complete performance, from start to finish. We will try our best to get a win away from home, which is important.”
“It's a dangerous match. You don't know what you're going to encounter because with the new coach they'll have more energy and desire to do well. We have to be as focused as possible and play hard. They like to run, they're a dynamic team with players who can shoot well.”
Objective
“It's important to get all the wins at home so you can catch your breath, and then be able to win away to stay at the top of the standings.”