By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid coach Chus Mateo was satisfied with how concentrated his players were in Game 3 against Olympiacos Piraeus to get the home win that keeps them alive in the EuroLeague playoffs.
“We were focused only on the game we played today,” Mateo said after Real Madrid‘s 80 – 72 victory. “We tried to forget what what happened in the past. It would be a mistake if we thought of the playoffs as if they are five games. This is stupid mentality, in my opinion. In my opinion we got to play one game at a time. Because it’s easier to be focused on what we have to do.”
“Of course, the games that we played before are important to understand how to beat your opponent and what kind of mistakes you got to avoid,” Mateo added. “But if you think of the entire playoffs, I think it’s a big mistake. Now, of course we are happy because we won in front of our fans but we have to think of the next one. This is a game to learn and to keep forward”
Olympiacos led 44 – 38 at halftime after erasing a 9-point deficit in the second quarter. Mateo saw his players reacting well under pressure to shut down their opponents in the second half and get the win.
“We need to be quiet in this moment,” Mateo said. “These moments are important to understand what kind of human beings and players we have. These are the moments we see the skills, the mentality of the good players. Today we got a matchball. We saved it without thinking if it’s a matchball at all. We tried to think of it only as a basketball game. Basketball, effort, team defense, rebounding. Something that helps you understand how to win. But not only with the heart. If we’re going to win, we have to play basketball too. Both are important.”