Ioannis Sfairopoulos expressed expectations ahead of the 11th round of the EuroLeague, where Crvena Zvezda hosts Anadolu Efes.
The Greek coach emphasized that Anadolu Efes is an extremely talented team, and his players must be up to the task if they want to triumph in the Stark Arena.
“We are playing against a very talented team. They have experienced players. The fact that they are missing some players should not change much for us in the game organization. They have solutions, players who can cover the gaps, who know how to play, and they do it at a high level. That’s why we need to be focused, know how to defend them,” said Ioannis Sfairopoulos, adding:
“If you give too much space to certain players, they can kill you. On the other hand, we have to play smart in offense and find a way to attack them. They do different things in defense, starting from pick-and-roll defense; we have to read the game well.”
The former coach of Olympiacos and Maccabi Tel Aviv believes that the EuroLeague is a marathon, and the focus must always be on the next game.
“We want to progress, play better. We are not happy because we lost the previous game, but the EuroLeague is a marathon. You have to be tough and strong to play every next game. Currently, the most important thing for us is to play well tomorrow.“
Regarding the team’s health, Sfairopoulos said:
“We don’t know if he will play tomorrow. He has started training, will work with contact, and at the shooting practice before the game, we will decide if he will play. Adam Hanga is not training, and Shabazz Napier will have to wear a mask for a long time.“