Ergin Ataman: 'They will see those fists again in the Final Four' / News - Basketnews.com
Credit imago images/Seskim Photo-Scanpix Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach Ergin Ataman met with local media 10 days before their historic trip to Belgrade to become the first team to defend the title in 9 years in Euroleague.
3-pointers this season
37%9,8Points made:9,8Accuracy:36,6%Place in standings:2Record max:22Record min:4Most made 3FGs:Shane LarkinTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsScheduleCoincidentally, the last one to fulfill this mission were Olympiacos Piraeus, the opponents of Anadolu Efes in the semis.
While the Turkish coach expressed his firm belief regarding the title defending mission, he also reflected on the struggles of the season.
“We are very excited to be yet in another Final Four. This is the best organization at the top of European basketball. In our previous visits, we won once in the final and last year, we won the title," he started his words.
"This season was really hard in the regular season and equally hard in the playoffs series as well. But once again, we made it. These are big successes to be sustainable at that highest level. With the same team and organization. Now we are titleholders. The first target is the semis and then, defend the title.
The opponents are tough but we are confident and believe in ourselves,” he continued.
Credit BasketNews/Uygar Karaca
Ataman also revealed the lack of pressure before the most important part of the season.
“Maybe you see some pressure from outside but I got accustomed to that. I don’t feel pressure. This is my 5th Final Four in total and with Efes, the third one in a row. The first time we made it to the final, I was really excited. For the second one, I was pretty sure that we were going to win and be relatively calmer.
I don’t think about what happens next if we lose the game. Of course, we won’t be happy. I always think in a positive way. We are a team that likes a final. We don’t lose the games with the final depending on a single game.
The season was already very hard. During the first half of the season, people questioned our ability to make it to the playoffs. But in the second half, we turned the tables. We have experience, we have a working system, and trust our players.
Actually, we are thinking more about the upcoming Turkish league playoffs on Wednesday, currently,“ he added.
Upon a question, Ataman also gave his thoughts on whether any of the three last Final Fours were different in terms of difficulty level, among the other two.
"In 2019, it was special. It is very rare for a team that came last in the standings at the end of the previous season to make it to the finals. That was very tough and you do not see those kinds of things in sports history.
But reflecting on this season and looking back into the near past of maybe 5-6 months, our most recent success was the hardest one, I should say. During this season, there was a certain disappointment in the team because we did not make the start that we were wishing for.
To be honest, we were also concerned about making it to the Top 8 as well and this was kind of surprising. We never thought before the season, that we could give such anxieties. Certainly, the Russian teams being expelled from EuroLeague played a part in us getting a better and more comfortable position. All of a sudden, we started to fight for 4th or 5th place."
Ataman also reflected on the toughest moments of the season and gave a special emphasis on the matchups against Barcelona.
"My hardest dressing room moment was in that Barcelona game, where I was ejected upon technicals. it was very hard for me to be in the most important moments not to be able to stay on the court," he revealed.
"I think my ejections were unjust. I was not able to finish both games on the bench. It was an emotional moment. That is why I want Barcelona in the final. This time, hopefully, I will be able to finish the game this time.
There was a double standard against me back then, but that gave them extra motivation.
Regardless, your answer should be always on the court. My fists were not against Barcelona fans but against the EuroLeague organization. It was just a message that we will never surrender. They will see those fists in the final four as well."
The Turkish NT coach also looked unfazed by the Olympiacos' fans, who are reportedly preparing to become the majority in the Stark Arena.
"We are not concerned about the fans of Olympiacos. They are a good group of fans, though. In 2019, we were also disadvantageous regarding the fans back in the semi-final. But we went to the final, anyways," he reminded.
"At the domestic level, we are also accustomed to being the “away” team in terms of the crowd during the finals. We won most of them. Also, we won a very big game against Milan in front of the Italian fans. That was the one that carried us to Final Four, actually.
There might be 10,000 Greek fans but we will have 1500-2000 fans as well. Their support will be enough for us. Besides, our players like that kind of atmosphere,” Ataman concluded.
During the regular season, the series between Anadolu Efes and Olympiacos were tied 1-1. While Efes won comfortably, thanks to a superior last quarter against their Greek opponents, the game in Pireaus was finished overtime with the victory of the hosts.
But before meeting with Olympiacos in the semi-finals, Anadolu Efes is going to play against Karsiyaka on the 11th and 13th of May, in the first round of the Turkish playoffs.
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