INTERVIEW: Branko Lazić – “Our goal is clear – We want to win the league!”

Branko Lazić, the captain of Crvena zvezda mts and the man who won all 3 regional championships with the red & whites in the past 3 years, stated in the interview for ABA League website that his team will try its best to win the trophy once again.

Crvena zvezda mts will enter the Playoffs as the 1st placed team in the regular season. How much are you satisfied with the season so far and what are your expectations in front of the crucial battles for the ABA League trophy?

“Of course that we are satisfied, because our goal was the take the top place in the regular season and to have home-court advantage in the Playoffs. We had some good moments in the regular season, while we also had some really tough challenges, as we played some of the most important ABA games just couple of days after having an Euroleague game. Still, we have managed to overcome all of that and to fulfill our primary goal in the regular season. As far as the Playoffs are concerned, our goal has been clear since the 1st day of the season. And it is also our most important goal – To win the ABA League championship.”

How difficult will it be to bear the burden of favorite in the Playoffs, since you are the 1st placed team in the regular season and the reigning ABA League champions?

“That burden has to be there, since this is an extremely important competition. However, when you are playing for Crvena zvezda mts you learn to cope with pressure. I do not think that we are the clear favorites in the Playoffs only because we have finished the regular season at the 1st place. We have fought hard to take that 1st place and it is the only advantage we have – To play at home court in front of our fans.”

Crvena zvezda mts will face Mornar in the 2018 ABA League Semi-Finals. What is your opinion about the rival?

“All 4 teams that qualified for the Playoffs have fully deserved it, as they have been the best teams in the league over the past five-and-a-half months. Mornar is a great team and a true inspiration to other clubs. Perhaps their results were considered as a surprise at the beginning, but when they started winning on a regular basis it was clear that this team was worth something. They have an excellent head coach and excellent players and together they have created a very good team chemistry. All of that have brought them to the 4th place in the regular season, which is the club’s best achievement ever. Therefore, we have a lot of respect toward Mornar and we will be fully focused on the upcoming series, as the battles for the trophy will officially start with Game 1 of the semi-finals.”

By winning the 1st place in the regular season Crvena zvezda mts have secured home-court advantage during the whole Playoffs. How much will the support of your fans mean in the upcoming games?

“It will mean truly a lot to us. Our fans have been making difference down on the court for years. They are giving us huge support and help us get the positive result. Still, the most important thing is that we are good, that we are playing some good basketball and only then we can reach our final goal.”

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INTERVJU: Branko Lazić – “Naš cilj je poznat – Želimo trofej”

Branko Lazić, kapiten Crvene zvezde mts i čovek koji je učestvovao u osvajanju sva 3 regionalna šampionata sa crveno-belima, istakao je u intervjuu za sajt ABA lige da je njegov tim spreman da ponovo napadne trofej.

U plej-of ulazite sa prvog mesta nakon regularnog dela sezone. Da li ste zadovoljni dosadašnjim delom sezone i kakva su očekivanja pred ključne borbe za osvajanje pehara?

“Zadovoljni smo naravno, cilj je pred plej-of bio da osvojimo prvo mesto i osiiguramo prednost domaćeg terena. Bilo je dobrih utakmica, bilo je izazova, neke od najvažnijih mečeva u ABA ligi igrali smo samo dva dana nakon teških utakmica u Evroligi. Ipak, sve to smo uspeli da prevaziđemo i da dođemo do osnovnog cilja pred plej-of. U plej-ofu naš cilj je poznat još od prvog dana i početka priprema, to smo isticali kao najvažniji cilj u ovoj sezoni. A to je osvajanje regionalnog takmičenja, odnosno odbrana titule.”

Da li vas opterećuje uloga favorita zbog najboljeg skora u regularnom delu, kao i zbog toga što branite trofej u ABA ligi?

“Nema opterećenja, odnosno ono postoji jer je ovo vrlo važno takmičenje, ali kada igraš u dresu Crvene zvezde naučiš da nosiš taj pritisak. Ne smatram da imamo ulogu apsolutnog favorita u ABA ligi zbog činjenice da smo osvojili prvo mesto u regularnom delu sezone. Ono je teško izvojevano, i to je jedina prednnost koju imamo, a to je domaći teren i naši navijači.”

U polufinalu vas očekuje Mornar. Kakvo je vaše mišljenje o narednom rivalu?

“Svi koji su našli mesto u plej ofu i završnici su tu potpuno zasluženo, jer su prikazali najviše tokom lige koja je trajala punih pet i po meseci. Mornar je odlična ekipa koja je osveženje u aba ligi u svakom pogledu. Možda su u rezultatskom smislu bili iznenađenje na početku, ali kada u kontinuitetu igraju dobro, onda je to pokazatelj da vrede. Imaju dobrog trenera, dobru hemiju, dobre igrače na svim pozicijama i svoj stil igre. Sve to dovelo ih je do četvrtog mesta i najvećeg uspeha tog kluba. Dočekujemo tu seriju sa punim respektom, maksimalnom mobilnošću, jer se sada igra za trofej, od prvog minuta prve utakmice polufinala.”

Kroz regularni deo sezone ste izborili i prednost domaćeg terena u polufinalu i eventualnom finalu. Koliko će vam u plej-ofu značiti podrška vaših navijača sa tribina?

“Mnogo, već sam to napomenuo kao važan faktor. Naši navijači godinama prave razliku, daju nam preko potrebnu podršku i pomažu nam da dođemo do dobrog rezultata. Ipak, na prvom mestu je da budemo na našem nivou, da igramo dobru takmičarsku košarku, i onda ćemo i doći lakše do krajnjeg cilja.”