Ergin Ataman spoke to reporters on the eve of Game 5 against Anadolu Efes Istanbul and about what will make the difference in OAKA’s home game.

In detail, what he said:

About the duel with Anadolu Efes Istanbul: “It will definitely be a difficult game, because all the games in the series so far have been close. Anadolu Efes Istanbul has experienced players and is the fighter. We have to be calm, play aggressively on defense and play our game on offense, so that we can win.”

About the games being decided by a big shot, one by Grant, one by Larkin, one by Mitoglou and one by Bryant: “I don’t know. I prefer to win the game in any way. Both teams have great potential offensively. Both teams understand their defensive duties. It will be important to be aggressive on every ball and fight for every possession. We must be in harmony with our fans who will be very important at our home. We must focus on every possession and not directly on winning. Winning every possession and that is how victory will come in the end”.

On the sold out in yet another home match and the psychology of Panathinaikos AKTOR: “I believe that it is nothing special that the tickets were sold out within four hours. Our fans have been doing this all season. They are with us. Tomorrow we don’t need a show, we need a fight, we need a sixth player, so that our athletes can find extra impetus and extra motivation. Without offending anyone, the referees, the players of Anadolu Efes Istanbul, the club of Anadolu Efes Istanbul which I respect. We simply want them to support the team 100%, so that they fight for every possession”.

On home field advantage: “I told my players that it’s much better to have Game 5 at home than it would be if we had it away. If it’s really an advantage, we’ll see tomorrow.”

On the incident with the Anadolu Efes Istanbul fans in Game 4: “Actually, I’m not thinking about such things right now. Nothing can cancel my memories and my respect for the Anadolu Efes Istanbul organization. I have friends who work there, family, the president. We’re always with the family. Sometimes fans do such things. But I think Panathinaikos fans know a lot more about basketball and respect people more. I hope that tomorrow our fans will support us, without offending anyone, because it has nothing to do with Anadolu Efes Istanbul, as a team. I know that the Anadolu Efes Istanbul organization was very worried about what happened, but that’s life, these things happen sometimes. Now I’m not thinking about that, I’m thinking about the 5th game, to play well and win.”

On whether he will have the same roster: “You mean if Mathias (Lessort) will play? He hasn’t trained in four months. We have no problems. We will have the same roster.”

Gabriel: “The game will be a dogfight”

Wenien Gabriel spoke about Game 5 of the series with Anadolu Efes Istanbul and answered a question about the Turkish team’s tall players.

In detail, what he said:

About the game: “We are expecting one of the biggest games of the season at OAKA tomorrow. It is, if I’m not mistaken, the seventh time we have played Anadolu Efes Istanbul. We know them and they know us. We have to enter the game aggressively from the beginning. We know that the crowd will be on our side tomorrow. They are a good team, we expected it. It is a dogfight, we expect that in the game tomorrow as well. It will be about who wants it the most and who is more aggressive. We have played many games on this court. We know how we have to be in terms of aggression and composure. In the end, the result will be visible.”

On Game 5 of last season against Maccabi Tel Aviv: “I had been told some things. Lorenzo, who experienced it as an opponent last year against Maccabi Tel Aviv, told me how noisy the fans were. It was one of the best games. He told me that the atmosphere is synonymous with the energy of the playoffs. We have to be ready tomorrow.”

On its tall players: “They are all different from each other and bring something different to Anadolu Efes Istanbul’s game. Poirier is a great threat near the basket. Oturu is very good both in defense and offense as a two-way player. Osmani is a good shooter from the perimeter. They all bring different things to the game, depending on what their team needs at that moment. We have to limit them all because they are, each in their own way, dangerous.”

On the front line battles: “Anadolu Efes Istanbul shoots very well from the perimeter. We managed to limit the points he scored from the racket, which kept us in contention for the win. But if we control the shots they make from the perimeter, then I think it will help us. As tall guys, the most important thing is to play good defense to control the action of the Anadolu Efes Istanbul perimeter players, so that, for example, Shane Larkin doesn’t find a rhythm. We saw that Darius Thompson also made some shots. All of them created a lot of shots for the fours. So everything is important, it’s not just about the tall guys.”