By Rigas Dardalis/ Dardalis@eurohoops.net
In the stands of Sinan Erdem Arena there will be – as they do every year – dozens of NBA scouts, but in this Euroleague Final Four there only two draft prospects that will get their attention. Born in 1990 Kostas Papanikolaou and Kostas Sloukas can be drafted by the NBA. Due to his athletic abilities and his bigger experience in Euroleague, “Pap” has more chances – but not that many – than his Olympiacos‘ teammate to be picked somewhere in the second round.
Is this an extra motive for him in order to have a final four performance, knowing that the scouts eyes will be fixed upon him; “No, we are here having only one purpose”, was his short, straight answer to Eurohoops.net. The Olympiacos‘ forward explains: “I try to leave out of my mind everything else, beside our team goal. If I don’t, then it could be a problem. If I think like that, I will think of my self and not my team. I have to focus on our goal and not in anything else. That’s what gives me motive and also the fact that in this court I had my best game of the season in Euroleague (ed.note: against Anadolu Efes in Top 16). This will maybe help me in the semifinal”