“Kendrick Nunn and Kostas Sloukas are two key offensive players for Panathinaikos, very pivotal for their game. Obviously, a big part of our scouting and what we want to do, to disrupt Panathinaikos, has to do with these two players, but there are also other players, perimeter players, who support Panathinaikos, who are excellent players and we cannot underestimate them, consider them a given that they cannot hurt us. It’s a collective effort from the whole team, from all the players, but at this moment, we have laid a very good foundation with today’s game, but nothing is finished, we have continuity, we have a very difficult game at OAKA next Monday and that’s where our focus is now.
We also have talented players, we also have players who can score. Contrary to what has been commented throughout the year that we are not a good offensive team. I think we have proven many times that we can reach 90, we can reach 80, we can reach 100, we can reach these scoring levels, but for this to happen, our defense must be strong because that’s the key point, that’s where the foundation of our game starts, and from there we find the psychology in the offense.”
About Game 3
“I don’t think that from our side, we will go and say, ‘oh, we have another game on our home court, let’s not play hard in this one.’ Or Panathinaikos, respectively, because the series is 2-0, will give up. We’re talking about Finals, and to win the title, you need three wins. At the moment, we’re not at three wins. So we need to go with the same hunger, with the same desire, with the same passion to play another difficult game in a tough venue and fight for the Championship.”
About the tensions
“These things can happen within a game. Now, I don’t know what has happened, to be honest. Okay, whoever follows basketball, at all levels, in the Finals, from the NBA to the last league, obviously when we talk about a title being contested, there will be tensions, one will say something, the other will say something. For me, all these are within the framework of the game. Personally, that’s how I see it.
I may have happened to clash with someone, and so on. I may have clashed with Ioannis Papapetrou, a guy with whom we spent many years together at Olympiacos and with whom I have great relationships. We may have clashed during the game. What does that mean? Does it mean one wants harm to the other? These things can happen. The point is to stay within the boundaries and keep moving forward,” Kostas Papanikolaou finished.