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lunedì 28 aprile 2008
As I go to Madrid for my first Final Four, I just say that I feel like we have two countries supporting CSKA. That's because many people in Greece are supporting us, too. Greece this year has no other representative for the Final Four, so I have heard that many of them, some in Madrid, will be cheering for CSKA. I would say that some of them will do so, of course, because I and Theo are on the team, and we are the only Greek players in the Final Four this year. But also I think that there are Greek fans of CSKA as a team, because they enjoy the way this club plays good basketball. There may be other Greek fans who want one of the other teams because they'd like to see a new team as champion or they want to be with the underdog. That is part of sports, too. But when ticket sales closed a few months ago, I heard there were a lot of Greeks that bought first, and I think that many will go now and be for me and Theo. First, it's easy to go because of the May 1 holiday, when nobody is working all around Europe. Second, Madrid is a beautiful city. And third, they will see high-quality basketball games, which is nice for true Greek fans even though their own teams aren't there. It might be even better, in a way, since they will go with no pressure or nervousness. It's a neutral place for them and there is going to be great basketball, no doubt!
We have played Tau Ceramica two times and beat them this season, but I...
NIKOS ZISIS - MOSCOW, RUSSIA
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mercoledì 23 aprile 2008
For me, going to the Final Four is surely an incredible experience. This is one of the main reasons that I came to CSKA - knowing the tradition of this team, the strength and quality of the team, how well-organized it is - and, of course, for me to get better as a player. For sure, the opportunity to play in the Final Four is important to me. It's unlucky that I have a small injury, but I am fighting to come back and hope to be 100-percent ready. I think I am going to will myself to do it, to be there no matter what. In any case, it's nice to be part of this team, and not only playing the Final Four, but maybe as one of the favorites. Even so, in a Final Four, the label of the big favorite a lot of the time doesn't mean anything. There are two games the champion needs to win, and the team that is more prepared, focused and in better shape will win the trophy. That's why our team now is only thinking about Tau and the semifinal, because it's really the first of two big finals in a row.
Experience can definitely be a big factor. I am going for the first time, and maybe that says I don't have experience, but on the other hand, I have experienced big games like this with my national team in the final of the European championships, and almost in the World Championships final, before I got injured. So I have been to big competitions with my national team and I have a clue how it is. These types of events are big...
NIKOS ZISIS - MOSCOW, RUSSIA
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