Bartzokas illustrates Olympiacos' injury woes, comments on Moses Wright's readiness / News - Basketnews.com

Giorgos Bartzokas made an interesting comment about Olympiacos' game vs. PAOK, where the Reds only had 8 players available. He also named the reasons his team signed Moses Wright and the biggest challenges the EuroLeague newcomer has to face.

Credit: IMAGO/Contrast - Scanpix Credit IMAGO/Contrast - Scanpix

Olympiacos Piraeus' home game against PAOK for Greek Basket League Round 16 presented coach Giorgos Bartzokas with a special situation.

Free throws this season

74%12,6Points made:12,6Accuracy:74,1%Place in standings:14Record max:33Record min:3Most made FTs:Nikola MilutinovTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

Even though the Reds cruised to a 77-62 win, their 14th in the domestic competiton, their roster was severely undermanned. Nigel Williams-Goss, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Filip Petrusev, Nikola Milutinov, Mustapha Fall are still sidelined with injury, while Shaquielle McKissic, Luke Sikma and Moses Wright had to sit out due to the foreign-player rule.

Greek forward-center Giorgos Tanoulis took on more duties than normally expected, but Olympiacos had a low obstacle to overcome. However, next week, the Reds will be taking on ALBA Berlin in Piraeus and FC Bayern Munich on the road.

Bartzokas called the game against PAOK "the most awkward" since the times he was coaching at Greece's local amateur league.

"We have six big guys -- and Tanoulis played because they were all out. Williams-Goss simply filled in for the team. Unfortunately that was the situation. In terms of preparation, we turned 7 on Friday morning and came without practice," the Greek coach revealed.

Credit Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

"This is the situation in European basketball. For the coaches it's a big problem. For those who came to watch the game and enjoyed it, it's OK," he pointed out.

The play-caller also referred to Moses Wright. The American big man came to Greece Saturday and had the chance to watch his new team in action.

"We expect him to live up to the level. He's qualified, but the level is completely different to what he's played at," Bartzokas said and further added that the big man will make the 12-man squad next Tuesday provided his Letter of Clearance (LOC) arrives on time.

Olympiacos Piraeus / Schedule

Real Madrid Olympiacos Piraeus90-85 Olympiacos Piraeus ALBA BerlinTue19:15 FC Bayern Munich Olympiacos PiraeusThu19:30

"It will be the first time in my life that I will be forced to use a player after one practice session," he noted.

"It is an emergency and we have to survive with extraordinary circumstances. We went on the market like many EuroLeague teams affected by injuries. We decided we wanted a big man, we excluded those who weren't in game rhythm. Anyone who wanted a month to get into shape would not help us," Bartzokas explained.

"We signed a guy who was playing, he is ambitious and he will see Olympiacos as an incentive to play and help. Wright is very ambitious, very athletic, he will give us a different dimension. He has to prove that he's at the EuroLeague level and that he possesses the mental readiness required."

Regarding Nigel Williams-Goss and Filip Petrusev, Bartzokas said the two players are going to have treatment to play on Tuesday. Nikola Milutinov and Mustafa Fall remain sidelined, as opposed to Shaquielle McKissick and Luke Sikma who are ready to play.

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