Omri Casspi: “Give Him a Chance.”

Translated by Amy Samin

Our feelings after the loss in Zagreb to Cibona were not good.
We wanted to win so badly, but the media started pressuring us more.
In the game against Galil/Gilboa, we looked much better and I hope that will give us a little peace and quiet before tonight’s (Thursday’s) game against Avellino.

Personally, it was extremely important to me to play well against Galil, to show Efy that my place is on the court.
When I’m playing, and I know that the team is counting on me, I play well and enjoy that kind of responsibility.
I’m pleased it went well.
When I’m on the court, I feel like I am contributing in several ways, whether it’s on defense, with offensive and defensive rebounds, shooting from outside the arc, but in particular I feel I bring positive energy to the team.
With every game, it’s important to me to be focused, to play well, and to give everything I have to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
And that’s what I always do.

Don’t worry about Carlos Arroyo.
He’s a seasoned player with an enormous talent, and not for nothing did he play in the NBA for seven years.
It will take him a little while to adjust to the different style of game we play in Europe, but he knows very well what he needs to do in the games to play better and to contribute more.
We’re counting on him and depend on him, and if he plays well, I believe everyone will play well.

The fans at Yad Eliyahu make a powerful contribution.
Each of the players prepares for games in his own way.
We don’t try to pressure one another or tell one another what to do.
It’s the first home (Euroleague) game for us, and after the initial shock and excitement, we need to wake up and play well.

It’s important for us to play well and put on a good show, because the fans at Yad Eliyahu know how to appreciate good basketball.
If we play good offense and good defense, the crowd will appreciate it.
We need to come and fight hard for our team, so that the crowd will like what it sees and give us some peace for the next part of the season.
I hope everyone will come to cheer and support us, that there will be a good atmosphere in the arena with the crowd on our side.
If that’s what happens, it will be extremely difficult to beat us.

samintranslations@yahoo.com

---