Player analysis: Dynamo Moscow - Asco Slask Wroclaw
|
|
Dynamo Moscow vs. Asco Slask
|
Robertas Javtokas, Dynamo Moscow
 Dynamo shot-blocker Robertas Javtokas is all about collecting trophies. The last time he was in the ULEB Cup, Javtokas walked away with the title and the final MVP award playing for Lietuvos Rytas in 2005. Having gone on to win the Euroleauge last season with Panathinaikos, Javtokas is now back trying to help Dynamo become the first two-time winner of the ULEB Cup. "The most important thing for us now is not to get relaxed and think we've got an easy opportunity because of the seedings. Now, everyong is fighting equally hard, and just one bad game losing by a lot of points makes it hard to come back. Everybody may think we are going to win, but that gives us a little more pressure. Good teams have to take the pressure and keep playing their game. For now, we're just waiting and want to start as soon as possible."
"We have great players, a coach who loves to press on defense, so we do it all the time. When you play good pressure defense, you get better offensively, I think, with steals and easy fastbreaks. It's fun to play. On offense, we have a lot of freedom to take the first shot. If you play good defense, you can make mistakes on offense, but first is always defense. If you make a mistake there, you're off the court."
"The format is new and something new is always interesting. Now, we have four games to win before we can think of the Final Eight. Then we'll see how different or difficult it is. But I do like the idea of a lot of teams with chances to win it all and go to the Euroleague. I just hope we are there in the Final Eight fighting for the same." |
Rashid Atkins, Asco Slask Wroclaw
 When every single point counts, it helps to have the ball in the hands of a veteran. Point guard Rashid Atkins is that man for Asco Slask Wroclaw, based on his experience in directing Prokom Trefl Sopot further than any Polish team has ever gone before in the Euroleague last season. His new challenge: directing Slask as an underdog in its second ULEB Cup elimination-rounds appearance. "Our first challenge is obviously the size Dynamo has. They have nice size at every position. Fostis is a matchup problem for any team. If a defender is too small, he can go inside, and if too big, he goes outside. He's a versatile, athletic player. With him and others, we've got to try to make them work a bit on defense, because we have good shooters, too, and if they have to work on defense, they'll be less effective on offense." 
"Our new coach, Rimas Kurtinaitis, has a game plan and we believe in him. Our way of playing now is going up. The speed and tempo of the team is a lot different. He has put an emphasis on being athletic since we're not big like some teams with seven-footers and guys weighting 120 kilos. We have to base our play on speed and athleticism. If it comes down to a run-and-gun game, that will help us and neutralize their size. Running games usually give small teams an advantage. If Dynamo, however, is accustomed to playing at a high pace and a high level, it will come down to who gets better shots and is in better condition. We'll see."
"I've been trying to lead the way and do all the things necessary to make us win. Since I played in the Euroleague last year, the team looks to me for leadership, and not just verbal leadership, but makikng plays on the floor for myself and for others." |
|
Sunday, February 03, 2008
ULEBCup.com
|