Olympiacos players exalt Tavares' impact: 'The main reason why Real Madrid are here' / News - Basketnews.com

Kostas Sloukas, Moustapha Fall and Sasha Vezenkov talked about how Edy Tavares' superb output has changed Real Madrid's ceiling while posing the biggest threat for Olympiacos in the EuroLeague final.

Credit: Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

As Olympiacos Piraeus prepare for another clash withReal Madrid in a EuroLeague title game, the spotlights will target one specific player that has been making heads turn over the past weeks.

Edy Tavares has always been Madrid's reference point on both sides of the floor (especially in the rear part), but his presence in the last few games has put him on another level. An All-EuroLeague First Team selection and the winner of the Defensive Player of The Year award, the big man from Cape Verde is making things happen for Los Blancos.

After having been the ultimate series-changer in the playoffs against Partizan, he recorded another monster performance vs. FC Barcelona in the Final Four semi-final held in Kaunas. It's no wonder Olympiacos' players regard him as the No.1 danger for their team.

Last Friday night, Tavares was a menace on both sides of the court. He scored game-high 20 points, grabbed game-high 15 rebounds, drew 9 fouls, and registered a whopping 39 PIR, his second-best result.

However, a tough matchup is coming for Tavares on Sunday as he'll be facing off Olympiacos' big man Moustapha Fall, a player who's highly similar to him.

"I see it as a great matchup. He's a great player, and he's going to make things hard for me. I'm going to try to do my best to stop him because I know he's one of the main players for them," Tavares told BasketNews' Mindaugas Bertys.

The Frenchman returned the compliment to his colleague, talking to NOVASPORTS.

"He is one of the best, if not the best, big man in the competition," Fall said.

"It's about the team, for us to win, and not about what I'm going to do. We are united, with good chemistry. There is no excitement after Monaco. We will stay focused because we have to win the EuroLeague. We want to get to the top," he noted.

Olympiacos have made their 9th EuroLeague final, having won three trophies in a Final Four process that started for them back in 1994. They faced Real Madrid in Spanish territory both in 1995 (Zaragoza) and 2015 (Madrid) and lost both games, but they did prevail in 2013, when the two sides locked horns in London.

After putting together an exemplary second half against Monaco, the Reds want to become the single most dominant force in European basketball for the last 15 years. In the Final Four era that started in 1988, Panathinaikos Athens lead all clubs with six trophies, while Real Madrid, Yugoplastika Split, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Olympiacos Piraeus follow with three.

"Real Madrid are a highly talented team and despite their shortcomings, they display a fantastic form recently," Kostas Sloukas argued.

"Clearly, their key man is Edy Tavares, who can dominate everywhere. He can cover the baskets on both sides," the Greek guard continued.

Sloukas beat Tavares one-on-one as the clock was running down in a EuroLeague Round 3 game in Madrid last October. He disarmed EuroLeague's most formidable shot-blocker with a fake and scored the winning basket for Olympiacos, using the glass.

However, in Friday's Clasico, it was Madrid who scored all the big buckets.

"That was mainly because of Chacho's experience," Sloukas praised Sergio Rodriguez.

"Barcelona's trump cards did not pay off at crucial moments. They're human, too," he commented.

Sloukas, nevertheless, thinks that Moustapha Fall is "Tavares' alter ego" and said "an interesting duel" is on the cards.

"We felt satisfaction because our goal to be in the final was achieved. There was extra pressure because, according to many people, we were the favorites against rookie Monaco," the three-time EuroLeague winner concluded.

If Sloukas' words on Tavares' impact weren't enough, the reigning EuroLeague MVP corroborated his teammate's claims.

"Tavares is dominant," Sasha Vezenkov told NOVASPORTS.

"He's been playing great all season long, but lately he's been something else," the Bulgarian forward stressed.

"I think that's the main reason why Real Madrid are here right now. But it's not just him, we shouldn't just focus on him," he said, without sparing flattering words for the squad coached by Chus Mateo.

"What Real Madrid have done in the last month is unbelievable. They got confidence, players who are ready to play, and experience. So, we have to play at our 100%."

Vezenkov is positive that the Final Four semi-final is more difficult than the final.

"You feel the obligation to make the final game, while now, we are one step closer to the trophy," he explained. "There will certainly be stress and anxiety, but there should be no lack of concentration, as we had in the first half against Monaco."

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