By Nikos Varlas / varlas@eurohoops.net
Kostas Papanikolaou was ready for “war”, but that didn’t change his playful mood. Before the quarter final the Denver Nuggets forward awaits the challenge and as he said, Greece can prevail, because “the lord made us smart”.
“You don’t have to say much before such a game. Winning means getting to the medal round. That’s the point. We don’t care who is the opponent, this is something that you, the journalists, think more, or the fans do. Even if we played against Serbia, or Italy, or any team there will also be a subplot and a “war-like” atmosphere. We don’t need that. Those games are a “war” by default”.
Papanikolaou was also asked about the way Greece can stop Pau Gasol: “We are ready and the problem is not only Gasol. Spain is a really talented team and you don’t have to focus to one player. If you do, then the others will kill you. Our guide has to be defense, rebounds and good offensive choices. Thank God, the lord made us smart as Greek and I believe that in any case we will be focused and determined”.