Euroleague.net interview: Marcus Goree, Benetton Treviso
by:
Frank Lawlor, Euroleague.net
November 15, 2005
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 It comes as no surprise that Marcus Goree of Benetton is the highest-ranked player through the first two weeks of the Euroleague regular season. Goree has been a consistent force with all three Euroleague teams he has represented since his debut in the competition in 2001. Now, in his second season with Benetton, Goree is an anchor on a reshaped team with a new coach that is attempting one of the most difficult challenges in pro basketball: to maintain a winning tradition while getting younger. Just turned 28, Goree is no old-timer, but as he says in this Euroleague.net interview, the role of a leader to Benetton's youngsters is one that he welcomes. "I'm a talkative guy, even though I try to lead by example, too," Goree said. "The young guys understand and I think they like how I try to help them. I used to be young myself, so I know what they are going through."
Marcus, first of all, congratulations on Benetton's first two wins. Looking at how tough your group is, how important was it to start strong?
"It has been good for us, for sure. As you can tell by the teams we have coming up - like Climamio, Zalgiris and Tau - this is going to be a very competitive, very tough group. It's really up in the air because there is no real dominant team in our group. You just gotta come to play every day and see who is best."
Benetton is one of just five undefeated Euroleague teams after two games, but you've also seen how difficult it is to win, even against new teams like Strasbourg. Did you feel fortunate to escape there with an overtime win?
"That was a difficult place to play. The fans there are very enthusiastic and behind the players. Also, that team shot the ball very well in the second half against us. But we knew that if we stayed with it, the way you have to do in every away game in the Euroleague, we could come away with the victory. Which we did."
 Benetton is your third Euroleague team and you have been a force in the league for four years. Do you feel that you are in the right place at the right time to make something happen in the Euroleague this year?
"Well, I know that I cam close with Maccabi to reaching the Final Four. And in my first year with Frankfurt we came close to that team's goal, the Top 16, until we had it tough in the last few games. And last year, here with Benetton, we made it to the playoff round before getting knocked out. I am very hopeful that this year we can go the little bit further that we want to go."
Following your Euroleague career, one word that comes to mind is consistency. How do you maintain consistency in a sport full of ups and downs, good games and bad games?
"I think you just gotta play the game. I let the game come to me. I don't try to force anything unless there is a real cause for it. If the shot is open, I take it. But I try to always play within the team chemistry. That's really the answer: I just let it come to me and try not to force anything."
You've also diversified your game a lot in a few years, with more three-pointers, for example. How else has your game evolved since you came into the Euroleague?
"I have learned that I don't need to waste a lot of energy doing unnecessary things. I just play to my strengths. I play easy, like the European players, hitting the open jump shot, taking what opponents give to you. There is a lot more technical skills here compared to the States. You've got to work on your shot and your low-post game to be good enough to play in Europe."
 Benetton has been making almost a generational transition from a well-known veteran team to a younger one with a new head coach. Does it feel like the beginning of something new in Treviso?
"Well, last year and before I got here, it was certainly a veteran team. This year is totally different. We've got a lot of young guys, willing to run, and a new coach who likes to see us run and shoot and score a lot of points, as long as we are playing good defense at the same time, of course."
With all the comings and goings and new names on the roster, you seem to have a key role because you don't come off the floor much. What kind of responsibility comes with that?
"I just try to be a leader and try to show the young guys what we need to do in order to win. I try to pick up where they don't have knowledge yet because they haven't played much in the Euroleague while I have been here awhile. The idea is to get these guys going and playing basketball like they can. That's my job, really, to give our coach someone to depend on all the time."
Do you try to lead in terms of talking to and advising young players, or do you try to lead more by example?
"I'm a talkative guy, even though I try to lead by example, too. The young guys understand and I think they like how I try to help them. I used to be young myself, so I know what they are going through in certain situations."
A lot of people forget that you guys were one game away from good chance at the Final Four last season. Do you come into this season with a goal of making that one step further to erase a bad memory?
"I do come looking for the next step. Twice now in my Euroleague career, I've been a couple of wins or so away from the Final Four. Once with Maccabi, we missed it and Benetton got in ahead of us. And last year, the same thing happened against Tau Ceramica. Hopefully, I'll get a chance again, and the third time will be the lucky one."
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