Ilias Papatheorodou stressed that AEK dominated offensive rebounding and the fast-breaks, during his statements in regard to the BCL playoffs game. 

PAOK’s coach also talked about the problems the team has been facing lately, while he also said that as long as there is a chance, his team will be fighting for the best.

 “AEK made a very good beginning in the game and succeeded in controlling two crucial areas: that of rebounding and mainly running the floor well. We knew they were going to do that, we wanted to contain them, but we failed to do so. It was very hard for us to come back, because the difference only got bigger and went above 20 points. We tried to come back during the second quarter and we did it, but we began the third one repeating the same mistakes we were making at the beginning of the game. AEK found easy points in the post and that was the key to them. We knew how they play, but we weren’t able to stop them. We need to continue and prepare the team in the best way possible”.

On whether PAOK can afford a bad day by both William Hatcher and Phil Goss: «The team can afford them not scoring but not if we don’t play good defense. We did not have a problem because they weren’t scoring, since we scored 75 points, coming close to our averages, but rather because we received 85. Basketball is a fair sport and the abnormal situation we have been coping with cannot beat the normal function AEK has been having, not only in the past week but rather in the past two months. We have simply, through self-denial, have been hiding the problems. However, when we have to play high level games, it’s only natural that there is no magic wand, nor a button you can push and return to normality ».

On the bad start: «All the guys knew about the high demands of the game, we needed to show character and I think that the team had prepared in the best way possible. But you just can’t simply turn a switch on. Basketball is a sport of practice, consistency, continuity… One team had all that, the other one not. AEK is a team with two great assets. Running the open court and offensive rebounding. Hunter had 9 rebounds in the first quarter, 5 of which were offensive ones, while during that time we received 9 points in the open court. Mental agility comes through practicing, repetition and concentration. When you haven’t been practicing for 15 days and you deal with other staff and for haven’t been doing what you need to be doing to prepare in the last couple of months, you can’t be ready… The guys tried a lot, they came back, they got to shrink the margin but our beginning really cost us. We have had a bad fourth quarter against Holargos and the difference dropped from 22 to 6 points. These ‘dead’ periods in the game have a high cost when you play at a high level».

On whether the upset is possible: «We have very few practices ahead of us. We’ll try again to return to a good level in terms of concentration and rhythm. As long there is a chance, we’ll be fighting for the best».