Βy Manos Firogenis/ info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos Piraeus guard Nigel Williams-Goss believes that there are some very specific reasons that make the EuroLeague regular season a more competitive affair than the regular season of the NBA.
“I definitely think that it [the EuroLeague regular season] is more competitive just because it’s a shorter season,” Williams-Goss said to Eurohoops. “You don’t have 82 games, you have 34 games. Obviously, when you lessen the games, that makes every game more important. That’s just by the number. If we played 82 games, every game probably wouldn’t be as competitive either. I think this is normal.”
“And then there’s the shorter games, 40 minutes,” Williams-Goss added. “That keeps the games more competitive. If you look at the World Cup, I think if you stretch some of those games from 40 minutes to 48 minutes, it gives teams with more talent more time to pull away. But when you shorten the game it gives anyone a chance. Steal a couple of possessions here and ultimately have a chance to win the game.”
Williams-Goss, who played with the Utah Jazz in 2019-20 after spending the first two years of his career in Europe, also mentioned the different approach NBA clubs have in comparison to EuroLeague clubs.
“You have to think that the NBA is a much larger business,” Williams-Goss said. “They bring in more money but it also means that there are different agendas. You have certain teams that are building for 3-4 years down the line. In Europe, teams don’t do this. Everyone wants to win now. There’s pressure to win now for all 18 [EuroLeague] clubs… We’re not playing for the next year, or after. Everyone wants to win now.”
Last summer Williams-Goss returned to Olympiacos after 2018-19 as a completely different player. Not only is he more experienced, which is natural, but he’s also a EuroLeague champion, lifting the trophy last season with Real Madrid.
The team that Williams-Goss and Real beat in the championship game was… Olympiacos, thanks to a jumper by Sergio Llull in the very last seconds. Now, the former Gonzaga star wants to help the Reds finish the job that was left undone last year.
“This was a big factor for me. Help push a team that was close – obviously has all the pieces,” Williams-Goss said. “Obviously, Real is a great organization, with great talents. But here I think I have the chance to have a greater impact and hopefully do something special here. I know the club and the fans have been dying for that and I’d love to be a part of that.”