By Alex Madrid/ info@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos filed an official protest for the officiating of Game 1 against Real Madrid and the loss to the Spanish side. A match in which the Greek team came back from a 14-point deficit, took a 6-point lead with four minutes remaining but went scoreless afterward.
Rick Pitino mentioned a “non-call” on a Facu Campazzo defense on Keith Langford with his team down 73 – 72 in the final minute but didn’t want to further comment on the referees ahead of Game 2.
“I don’t talk about referees publicly,” Pitino told reporters during Game 2 pre-game presser. “I tell my players: If they think they get fouled and they start talking to the ref instead of getting back in transition, you are not going to change the referee’s call. I try to not pay attention to the referees. They have a job to do and we have a job to do
“I don’t concern myself about referees. I’ll leave that to Olympiacos,” Pitino added. The Hall of Fame coach fired shots at the “Reds” that decided to forfeit the Greek Cup semifinal vs. Panathinaikos at halftime in protest of the officiating.
Regarding the motivation for Game 2, Pitino stated that: “That won’t be a problem,” Pitino answered before adding that: “You don’t have to worry about motivation in the playoffs. If you do, you have a bad team.”