Tyler Dorsey: 'We needed to be tested against a really good team' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit BasketNews/D.Repečka

Olympiacos Piraeus started the season with a perfect EuroLeague record and remained unbeaten after a tough fight against Real Madrid on Friday. Tyler Dorsey was one of the main contributors to the victory of the Greek powerhouse.

Player of the Game EFF 18 Aleksandr Vezenkov Points 16 Accuracy 6-13 Rebounds 10 Assists 0

After the game, the American guard emphasized solid defensive performance and appreciated the hard test.

"I think it was a defensive game. Both teams were capable of scoring a lot of points, but people were getting stops and missing open shots. We are a good defensive team when we came out like that.

We got to continue because we got another game on Sunday and then against Barcelona, a good scoring team. So, we got to keep defending. Today it was just a hard-fought battle and we needed that.

We needed to be tested against a really good team. They have been hot and have not lost any game since they got here. We are just taking care of the home court," said Dorsey.

Talking about the defensive priorities, the 25-year-old mentioned Real's point guards and big man Walter Tavares.

"We knew we got to take care of Tavares and get out to the shooters. We needed on-ball pressure that was our main point. We were making it difficult for their point guards, like Heurtel and Nigel, to score."

According to the Olympiacos shooting guard, it is an early stage of the season, therefore OLY need to take this success on to the double week.

Tyler Dorsey did not hide that tonight's atmosphere was more electrifying than in the last week's game versus Baskonia.

"The first game was important too, but the energy was greater today, it was much louder. I think the fans were cool, and we need them against all the good teams. It was nice to feel that energy," admitted Dorsey.

About upcoming challenges and double-week, Tyler underlined the need to be ready to fight.

"Be ready that's all it comes down to. You can build tactics against good teams, but you just have to come ready. Pick up on our mistakes defensively and move the ball on the offensive end."

Dorsey was an important player in the decisive period tonight. He declared that these moments are the ones he is waiting for.

"When it comes to the fourth quarter, in my whole career, I wanted to be in the big moments. I want to take big shots and make big plays defensively. I take that as a challenge. When it is a close game, I want to take those moments in," finished OLY newcomer.

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