Printezis ahead of the Final Four: 'We want to play a stress-free game and have fun' / News - Basketnews.com
Giorgos Printezis is getting ready for what will possibly be his career-last EuroLeague Final Four.
Free throws this season
76%13,8Points made:13,8Accuracy:75,8%Place in standings:3Record max:27Record min:5Most made FTs:Konstantinos SloukasTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsScheduleThe 37-year-old forward will travel with the rest of Olympiacos Piraeus' squad to Belgrade next Tuesday afternoon. For the seasoned veteran, this will be his sixth presence in European club basketball's premier event.
"We can say that this year, we've gotten more than we wanted," Printezis told Greek public broadcaster ERT following Olympiacos' 17th straight Greek League win, against Kolossos Rhodes at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. It was the Reds' last game before they take on Anadolu Efes Istanbul next Wednesday.
Printezis, by far the oldest player on the team, said he feels blessed for being a part of "three different versions of Olympiacos. The first one was in 2009, the second in 2012 and the third is now. The joy of going to the Final Four is great. It is a beautiful feeling and for the good of Greek basketball," he noted.
"We are a team that proves that when there's a strong bond on the court, great things can happen," the Greek international continued.
"We're playing modern basketball with energy and speed. Every player performed at 100%. People love basketball but it's very difficult for any team to go to the Final Four and win it."
Referring to the upcoming Final Four, Printezis stressed that "those games are weird. It all goes down to how well you'll perform on a certain day. We gain strength from our fans, who provide us with energy instead of adding pressure."
According to the Reds' captain, reigning champs Anadolu Efes "have a lot of talent and two of the best guards in the EuroLeague (editor's note: Vasilije Micic and Shane Larkin). In the Final Four, players who can make a difference may come out of nowhere. We want to play a stress-free game and have fun."
"It's a great pleasure to be in the Final Four. The preparation is strange. I haven't given much thought to it, maybe it's also a matter of experience. You prepare for it as if it were like any other game. We played hard and tough in the playoffs and now, we need to be ready in those games too," Printezis holds.
"Everyone knows how much of a big deal the Final Four is. You need to be humble and do nothing different from what you've been doing all year, both as a team and individually."
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