Fenerbahce assistant coach: 'This Olympiacos team reminds me of Obradovic's PAO' / News - Basketnews.com

Fenerbahce's assistant coach Stefanos Dedas thinks Olympiacos Piraeus are the best team in Europe right now and drew comparisons between the Reds and Panathinaikos in the Zeljko Obradovic era.

Credit: Olympiacos BC/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Olympiacos BC/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Olympiacos Piraeus have started the season strong, counting five wins in as many official games across three competitions. The Reds have already won the Greek Super Cup, whilst being 1-0 in the domestic league and 2-0 in the EuroLeague, after beating Zalgiris Kaunas in an empty Peace and Friendship Stadium on Friday night.

3-pointers this season

38%9,0Points made:9,0Accuracy:37,5%Place in standings:6Record max:12Record min:6Most made 3FGs:Nick CalathesTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Olympiacos' recent form, combined with the fact that the Greek side has kept almost all of its core players (save Tyler Dorsey) from last season, while adding some quality pieces (Alec Peters, Joel Bolomboy, Isaiah Canaan) to the puzzle, has many people think that the team coached by Giorgos Bartzokas can achieve more compared to last season.

Kazys Maksvytis, Zalgiris' head coach, praised the Reds' high-level of basketball after his team went down 80-90 in Piraeus last night. But the Lithuanian tactician isn't the only one who thinks Olympiacos are the best team in the Old Continent as we speak.

His view is shared by Stefanos Dedas, Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul assistant coach.

"Olympiacos are the epitome of what's called a team," Dedas told Vangelis Ioannou while being hosted at the Greek public radio ERA SPORT.

Dedas thinks that "with the additions made every year, Bartzokas shows how a team should work in the long run."

Credit Vangelis Stolis

But the Greek coach went even further, calling the Reds a similar case to one of the all-time greatest squads in European basketball history.

"Olympiacos is currently reminiscent of Panathinaikos during the Zeljko Obradovic era. You keep a core of players, play the same type of basketball, and only make 2-3 additions every year. That showed in the friendlies between us, even though there were absences on both sides," Dedas continued.

"If we agree that chemistry, three-point shooting, clearly defined roles, and experience is all that really matter, this Olympiacos team ticks all the boxes. They're one of the frontrunners to win the EuroLeague. I think they are the best team in Europe," the former AEK Athens and Hapoel Holon play-caller said.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul / Schedule

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv86-71 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul LDLC ASVEL VilleurbanneTue17:45 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul Valencia BasketThu17:45

"For instance, Real Madrid may have a good roster, but Olympiacos and Anadolu Efes are the best teams; Olympiacos are also very hungry," Dimitris Itoudis' collaborator pointed out.

With regards to Panathinaikos' current version, Dedas, 40, thinks that the Greens have better players than last year. Still, the distance that separates them from EuroLeague's top-drawer hasn't become smaller.

"They've added some good players. Their loss to Aris was a shock, but all teams have problems. For sure, them struggling to avoid last place is something not likely to be repeated this year. They'll be better," Dedas said.

"Beyond that, unfortunately, Panathinaikos aren't up to the standards of top teams. It's early, but their roster and their coach are experienced enough to pull through."

Dedas also commented on the rumors that had Fenerbahce make a move for Facundo Campazzo, way before the Argentinian guard signed with the Dallas Mavericks for one year.

"During the summer, several big teams tried to find out information, but we were invested in Nick Calathes and Scottie Wilbekin," the Greek tactician clarified.

Calathes, who neared his second EuroLeague triple-double last night in the game against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, was the first option on the market for Dimitris Itoudis.

Dedas said that the Turkish team's coaching staff were sure that after FC Barcelona lost the ACB title to Real Madrid and Tomas Satoransky entered the picture, there was immediately smoke in the air for Calathes.

"We predicted that Nick would go on the market," he assured. "When that happened, we made a push for him, and because of Itoudis, it was an easy choice for him to join us. Now, we have a very good and a pass-first point guard, which is a rarity in basketball nowadays," Dedas concluded.

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