Anadolu Efes Head Coach Ergin Ataman said, “We will try to keep Anadolu Efes at the same level for the next 2 years. We are also a delightful team with the basketball it plays. We will strive to continue this in the coming years,” he said.
Anadolu Efes Head Coach Ergin Ataman answered the questions of press members on digital media at the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four media day. Emphasizing that defense is important in order to be successful in the Final Four, Ataman said, “We are the 2nd team with the least points. Most of our offenses are also due to defense. “We are aware of the fact that we have to do a good defense in order to go to the top spot in the Final Four. We have a process close to 3 weeks ahead. We will start preparations.”
“I HAVE NOT WATCHED THE PLAY-OFF MATCHES OF CSKA”
Saying that they have not started to analyze CSKA Moscow, their rivals in the Final-Four, Ataman said, “It is necessary to evaluate CSKA Moscow in two ways. Before and after Mike James. I could not watch the matches CSKA played in the play-off round. We also had play-off matches. I could only follow their scores. There is a 3-week process ahead of us. In this process, we will analyze their previous matches played in the play-offs, “he said.
“WE WILL TRY TO KEEP ANATOLIAN EFES AT THE SAME LEVEL THROUGH THE NEXT 2 YEARS”
Ataman, who signed a new 2-year contract with Anadolu Efes, said: “We will try to keep Anadolu Efes at the same level for the next 2 years. “I don’t know.”
“ANADOLU EFES EN CORPORATE AND ORGANIZED CLUB”
Underlining that he has no intention of working in a club other than Anadolu Efes in Europe, the experienced head coach said, “In my opinion, Anadolu Efes is the most corporate and organized club in European basketball. I never thought of transferring to another team other than Efes in Europe. The truth of this work. I am in my country, Turkey’s team is Anadolu Efes. We are working in harmony here. The question of the NBA comes up. I see it very hard. There is no European coach who has been successful in the NBA in Europe so far. “We will have a very harmonious relationship with Efes in the next 2 years. We are here as long as we are not fired from Anadolu Efes.”
“WE WANT TO KNOW OUR 3-4 PLAYERS WITHOUT SICKNESS AND GO TO FINAL-FOUR WITHOUT LOSS”
Referring to the issue of whether athletes should be vaccinated during the coronavirus process, Ataman said, “Unfortunately, the conditions in our country are certain. There are problems with vaccination all over the world. As the Anadolu Efes team, we went to different parts of Europe 19 times this season. When we conveyed this to the Ministry of Health, they showed close proximity. Most of our players also got sick. They showed interest and helped us for our non-sick players. We want to vaccinate our 3-4 non-sick players and go to the Final Four without any losses. They showed us this closeness, “he said.
“WE LIVE BASKETBALL FAMILY”
Stating that the season they spent during the coronavirus pandemic period was the most difficult season of his career for him, Ataman said, “It was a very different season. Basketball is very important for me. We live basketball as a family. Basketball has also been a lifestyle that surpasses it. Pandemic, the pain of the whole world and in our country. The losses we have suffered … We used to walk around, drink a coffee, but now none of this happens. Also, we are always in anxiety. The mask is a psychological destruction. You are anxious when that mask is on you, “he said.
“AYDIN ÖRS IS AN IMPORTANT FIGURE FOR EVERYONE”
Stating that Aydın Örs, who had been treated in intensive care for a long time due to his coronavirus treatment, sent him a message after he was taken to the normal room, Ergin Ataman said, “Big brother Aydın is very important to me. He is a person where I take an example, constantly talk and consult, and get an idea where I am stuck. It made us very sad in a month, had a hard time. It was shocking for us that he was hospitalized due to the coronavirus. He wrote a message to me before the last game of the Real Madrid series. This made me very touched. It made me happy to receive such a message from him. “He’s a great figure for everyone. I hope we win the trophy and we’ll have a nice meal when he leaves the hospital,” he said.
DHA
