February 09, 2012
Euroleague 2009-10, Regular Season, Group B analysis and Quotes

Analysis

OLYMPIACOS

OlympiacosAfter returning to the Euroleague Final Four for the first time in a decade, Olympiacos Piraeus showed last season that it is ready to return to its rightful place as a perennial Euroleague challenger. Head coach Panagiotis Giannakis and his charges fell short in the semifinal, but are back hungry and determined for another run at the ultimate title, which the Reds have not lifted since 1997.


PARTIZAN BELGRADE

PartizanLed by freshly crowned Alexander Gomelskiy Coach of the Year Trophy winner Dusko Vujosevic, Partizan Belgrade has made back-to-back appearances in the Quarterfinal Playoffs. A new crop of rising stars seem to step up every year and that is the plan again in 2010 as the Serbian powerhouse looks to continue knocking at the Final Four door with some of the best prospects in the game.


UNICAJA

UnicajaUnicaja has established itself as one of the most consistent clubs in European basketball as it makes its ninth straight Euroleague appearances. Coaching great Aito Garcia Reneses enters his second season at Unicaja – and first with a full summer to prepare – which only raises the already high expectations of the passionate supporters in Malaga.



EFES PILSEN

Efes PilsenThe new Turkish champs are eager to bounce back after a disappointing Euroleague campaign ended in the regular season. Head coach Ergin Ataman will have one of the game’s best scorers at his disposal this season after Efes Pilsen made a big summer splash by signing Igor Rakocevic. His addition to the squad that came together at the end of last year makes Efes a contender to go far in 2010.


LIETUVOS RYTAS

Lietuvos RytasEurocup champion Lietuvos Rytas is back in the Euroleague and looking to do even better than the last two times, though the Lithuanian champs were quite impressive then – reaching the Top 16 both years After a season in which L. Rytas won five titles, it will take head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis’s men making at least the Euroleague quarterfinals to top an incredible 2009 run.


Quotes

Unicaja general manager, Bernardino Perez

"This Group B is a tough one for us, and it also has a little mystery added with the team that remains to be confirmed. However, I am happy that our fans will get to see great teams in Malaga, and I am sure they will help us throughout the regular season to try to get into the Top 16. We hope to maintain our roster plans for the season after knowing these draw results now. We have to consolidate our group of players to try to be a strong block to fight for all the titles we play for."

Olympiacos General Manager, Christos Stavropoulos

“I think that our target is the same like last year. To be in the Final Four in Paris. Last year we got to the Final Four and we have the same target. I can’t say if the teams are good or bad. It’s hard to say because they are under construction. We have the same respect for all the opponents. All the opponents are the same for us.”

Partizan Belgrade general manager, Mladen Silobad

“I hope we make it though. Every year is a tough year because we lose some players and try to find some good young players thanks to our coach, who is the best coach from last season. Last year we set the record for attendance with 22,500, something like that. But it was because of our ability to play. We played very well in the first half of the season and people in Belgrade wanted to come. We will see this season.”

Efes Pilsen general manager, Engin Ozerhun

“It’s going to be a tough challenge. As the system leads us, all the groups seem like they are equal to each other. We have great expectations this season. We believe that we have to be in the Top 16 and we are going to fight for the Top 16. Additionally we want to be in a good place for the Top 16. So it’s going to be a tough group and with the team that will come from the qualifying rounds, which I believe will be Benetton, it’s going to be a tough group. We are trying to reach the top level.”

Partizan Belgrade guard Petar Bozic

“At this point of the season, we do not think about our opponents too much. Each year we prepare for the strongest Euroleague group. Regarding the names of our Group B rivals, it is clear they are big clubs with huge budgets that are going to make strong teams. But we are not going to load ourselves with forecasts. It is well known what kind of ambitions Partizan has each season. Our goal is to give our best during the season and we are not thinking about our opponents’ names at the moment.”

Olympiacos head coach, Panagiotis Giannakis

“It is too early to analyze the draw because most of the teams didn’t complete yet their rosters. There is no doubt that the level is very high, but the competition itself has showed that the Top 16 draw is the more important. I am not trying to underestimate the regular season’s draw, but that is the reality. Olympiacos is trying to return to the Final Four and have the best possible result and we want to play the best possible way in any given match, regardless the opponent we face. This is our priority in the 2009-2010 season.”

Olympiacos point guard, Theo Papaloukas

“The regular season is always a good opportunity for preparation to get ready for the crucial phases. We have to work tough and stay focused and concentrated. It is worth mentioning that after many years Olympiacos was in the No. 1 seeded group and we have to invest in this and try to enforce the name and the potential of our team.”

Lietuvos Rytas head coach, Rimas Kurtinaitis

"You really cannot choose your opponents in the Euroleague. All the teams are really tough. Same with the teams in our group, they are all serious. At the same time, it is hard to evaluate them because not all the rosters, and thus the real strengths, are known. Partizan is really tough, very agressive. Olympiacos always has a pocket full of money, but they somehow lack consistency. For me as a head coach, the biggest headache so far has been finding a solid playmaker. All other positions are covered."
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Euroleague.net
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