February 10, 2012
Playoffs analyst: Roger Grimau - Regal FC Barcelona
Roger Grimau - Regal FC BarcelonaAs the Regal FC Barcelona's longest-tenured player, Roger Grimau knows a thing or two about important games against Real Madrid. Now in his seventh season with Barcelona, Grimau has already been to two Final Fours, experience that is proving to be an important piece of the team's success this season. Though not best-known for his offense, Grimau proved he can excel as needed when he scored 17 points in less than 17 minutes off the bench to spark one of Barcelona's important Top 16 victories over Panathinaikos. Whatever head coach Xavi Pascual needs is what Grimau aims to bring to the floor every time his number is called. And it is safe to expect it to be called early and often as he aims to help Barcelona accomplish its next goal: knocking off its archrival and snatching a ticket to Paris for the 2010 Final Four. "Our goal starting this season was to return to the Final Four, and we're on the right track," Grimau says. "However, all is not done, we still have a long way ahead of us in order to reach Paris."

How has the season gone so far compared to your expectations and those in and around the club?

"I think that so far the season has been very good for us. We are playing well and we are also winning games. We've also had some not so good games, but the most important thing is that even those we ended up winning. I think that more or less all of the expectations that people had have been met at this point. We, as a team, always set reaching a high level as a goal, and so far I think everything is going fine."

You've faced Real Madrid a million times. Who are their most dangerous players, and why?

"Wow, that question is really hard. It's almost impossible to highlight one single player from that team, because they are a very complete squad. They are full of quality players, so it's very difficult to pick a few from that group. I think it will be a tough series because we know each other well as teams, but I can't choose one player over the rest, because I would not be doing the others justice."

Barcelona is unbeaten home this season. How important is the homecourt advantage in this series?

"I really hope that it will be an important, even decisive factor. However, as I said before, what we have accomplished so far is good for us to boost our self-confidence. We are happy, our fans are with us, but that does not give us anything yet. We can't count any victory in the series before starting it. What it gives us is awareness that if we are not playing at 100 percent all the time, we will not win."

You're having great season off bench, adding energy. How do you conceive the role and what can be its importance in these key games coming up?

"I always try to give something important to the team and look for a way to do that. There are players that have to be important by scoring points. Others have to have a primary role by grabbing rebounds. But we are a team, and I think that the most important thing on our roster is that everyone knows what to do, and so do I. I know that my role, even though I start in some games, is coming off the bench to give an extra boost to the team at different points in the game. I am happy about not only this season, but all the years I have been here at Barca."

How good would it be to make it to another Final Four specifically defeating an archrival like Madrid?

"Well, that would be excellent news for us. There are a lot of factors. Last year we left Berlin with bitter feelings because in the semifinal game against CSKA Moscow, we had qualification for the final at arm's reach, and at a certain moment they had a good run with two or three three-pointers that put them ahead and they never looked back. That was a hard blow for us. Our goal starting this season was to return to the Final Four and we're on the right track. However, all is not done, we still have a long way ahead of us in order to reach Paris, but I do hope that we manage to be there."
Friday, March 19, 2010
Euroleague.net
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