Sfairopoulos on Olympiacos: 'The strongest EuroLeague team in the point guard position' / News - Basketnews.com

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Maccabi Tel Aviv have returned to practices with a nearly full squad ahead of the Round 22 encounter against 3rd-placed Olympiacos Piraeus after several players contracted COVID and recovered.

Free throws this season

81%13,8Points made:13,8Accuracy:80,6%Place in standings:3Record max:22Record min:9Most made FTs:Scottie WilbekinTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Newly-acquired guard Kyrie Thomas is not available as he has yet to practice with his new teammates.The game holds a special significance because it's Maccabi's first at home in the club's 90th year, which is celebrated in many ways.

The team will be wearing a special white uniform for the first time this season, and during the game, Ralph Klein and Joshua Rosin, two of the club's legendary coaches, will be inducted into the club's Hall of Fame.

Maccabi lost 90-73 in Piraeus in the first round, but are aware of the fact that all six of Olympiacos' EuroLeague losses this season have come in away games."We're getting back to playing after a long period of abstinence. It's a game with special significance," coach Giannis Sfairopoulos said in the press conference ahead of the game.

"First, we will pay tribute to two legendary coaches at our club, Rosin and Klein. "This is the 90th year of our club and of course, it's also the first game after COVID struck our team."

Referring to Olympiacos, which Sfairopoulos coached from 2014 to 2018, the Greek tactician called the Reds "the most stable team this season in the EuroLeague", adding that they "are playing good basketball."

"They are the strongest team in the point guard position in the EuroLeague, in my opinion," he explained. "They are very defensive-oriented and for us, it's a big challenge to play against a very good team.

We have been practicing, trying to catch up, recovering players from COVID and we expect to have a full house.""I don't want to use as an excuse the COVID situation we had in the team," Sfairopoulos stressed. "It's been 17 days when we couldn't even practice five against, but that's no excuse and we have to perform against a tough opponent who has already come back to play. It's something that happens to a lot of teams," he pointed out. "We are going to play 33 games in 100 days," the experienced coach said. "There is no secret recipe, we have to fight hard in all games - that is the only way. We want to be competitive in every game, but we will not risk players who are not fully fit," Sfairopoulos concluded. "I think we've had a great training week. I feel the way we've worked will pay off," explained Keenan Evans.

"It's hard to get back in that kind of situation, but the coach did a great job of instilling in us a sense of urgency ahead of the game. We are doing our best to prepare accordingly as we have not had games recently."

"Olympiacos are a great team, especially offensively," admitted Oz Blayzer.

"They have a lot of tools and they play with good fluency," the Israeli forward added. "We're going to have to be aggressive, especially on the defensive end. Also, we have to be offensively aggressive, attack the rim with penetrations and shots.

Hopefully, we can finally get back on a winning track here at home and set off on a new path."

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