Bartzokas addresses Olympiacos' last-quarter decline, upcoming Greek derby / News - Basketnews.com

Giorgos Bartzokas spoke about Olympiacos' upcoming EuroLeague game against Crvena Zvezda and gave his take on his team's inability to close many games despite having a significant lead.

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Olympiacos Piraeus are preparing for their upcoming EuroLeague game vs. Crvena Zvezda for EuroLeague Round 15.

The Reds currently stand at 9-5, having lost their last game in Lyon to LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. In that contest, Olympiacos wasted a 21-point lead and saw Amine Noua hit an open three-point shot to change the game's fate irreversibly.

It was the most telling example of the Greek side's decline in the closing 12-13 minutes of away games, which had been recently manifest in Tel Aviv and Istanbul, but also against Valencia Basket at home.

Olympiacos have fallen victim of many comebacks this season and coach Giorgos Bartzokas was asked about it in the presser ahead of the game vs. Zvezda.

"You're referring to the matches we lost," Bartzokas clarified.

"Those we've lost are five and the ones we've won nine. In the nine matches we won, that didn't happen," he continued.

"Journalists and public opinion - and rightfully so- are used to looking at that side of things. We're analyzing it and thinking about what we can do better," Bartzokas admitted.

"But what I want to tell you is that Olympiacos impose their way of playing. Some of the games end well and some don't. I don't think anyone expects, realistically, that we will win all the games. If anyone believes it, he must be a die-hard Olympiacos fan, and I accept it," Bartzokas noted.

"Of course, we are looking to improve, to have a better approach, make better decisions. This goes for coaches and players alike. We want to improve, learn from our mistakes.

But we can't dwell on the games that we didn't finish while we were ahead. We have to understand how other teams play and that they also have talent.

Also, we cannot play at such a level for 40 minutes. We will try, but we are not yet at a point in time where we can do it," the Greek coach conceded.

In view of the game against Crvena Zvezda, Bartzokas stressed that while Giannoulis Larentzakis "is feeling well and will play," Moustapha Fall completed 1/3 of the practice session. "He's tired from the virus he had and we will see how much energy he will have to be able to play," Bartzokas said.

On the approach of the match vs. Red Star after the defeat by ASVEL, the 57-year-old tactician stressed that "games like the one with ASVEL are used as an incentive for players so as not to repeat the same. It remains to be seen whether we will make it."

Bartzokas pointed out that Luca Vildoza and Nemanja Nedovic "are scoring or creating 60% of Red Star's points. We have to defend very well if we want to win."

On December 30, Olympiacos will be hosted by Panathinaikos at OAKA in the year's farewell game. Asked about his team's focus ahead of that contest, Bartzokas was clear that PAO can wait.

Credit Vangelis Stolis

"I don't think anyone expects me to answer that we are focusing on Panathinaikos, because if that happens, we will lose the match against Red Star. It is a very difficult game and every match in the EuroLeague is like that.

I don't have to say that if you don't concentrate on the next game, you will pay for it," the experienced coach concluded.

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