Bartzokas gives update on Canaan's availability, names PAO's advantage in Greek derby / News - Basketnews.com

Giorgos Bartzokas said Olympiacos will host Panathinaikos without Isaiah Canaan on the squad, and stressed the lack of pressure that can work in the Greens' favor in the derby.

Credit: Stefanos Kyriazis / ipa-a/SIPA - Scanpix Credit Stefanos Kyriazis / ipa-a/SIPA - Scanpix

Following their win over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, Olympiacos Piraeus became the first team to clinch home-court advantage for the EuroLeague playoffs.

However, despite their 22-9 record that keeps the Reds on top of the EuroLeague standings, there's another Greek derby coming up, as Panathinaikos Athens will be the visiting side at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Friday night.

Asked whether his team's primary goal from now on is to finish first, coach Giorgos Bartzokas preferred to keep it open.

"I wouldn't say the first spot [is our goal], but to get the best possible position," he said.

"We don't have the luxury, nor the room, to think about the first place. Our games and our schedule are overwhelming."

Going into Friday's game, Bartzokas knows he won't be able to rely on Isaiah Canaan's services. As he clarified, the American guard, whose wife gave birth to their second child two days ago, is expected to return from the US on game day and thus, "it's extremely difficult for him to play without practice."

On the other hand, Moustapha Fall, a last-minute absentee from the game against ASVEL, will be back after practicing with the rest of the squad.

Referring to the derby, Bartzokas predicted that it will "certainly be a difficult environment for Panathinaikos, and an easy one for us because we play in our gym."

"However, that shouldn't fool us," he warned.

"We have a goal ahead of us, we have made a great effort. March was the month with the most games. We played twelve, it's too many games.

In some, we appeared tired - both mentally and physically, but at the moment we have to make a boost to finish the regular season as best we can. Because that's the way for us to be good in the playoffs," the 2022 EuroLeague Coach of the Year stressed.

Currently, Olympiacos count an impressive 12-game winning streak against their main rivals across all competitions. When the two team last met on the EuroLeague front, the Reds prevailed by 95-71 at OAKA, recording their all-time biggest road win over PAO.

"Morale, confidence, and all that doesn't come into play," Bartzokas thinks.

"There's momentum right now. Panathinaikos play without pressure and have nothing to lose but only to win. We are the ones who will lose if we lose the game, so what counts is the approach with respect to the opponent.

It's a team we value and respect. We don't think we'll get the win without putting in the effort," he concluded.

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