February 10, 2012
Playoffs analyst: Dusan Kecman, Partizan
Dusan Kecman - PartizanThe only defending Euroleague champion left in the competition and heading into the playoffs is Dusan Kecman, who left Panathinaikos to return to Partizan Belgrade last summer. Partizan is now in the playoffs for the third season running and Kecman's experience and all-around game at both ends of the floor are among the main reasons for this season's success. Numbers don't tell the story of Kecman's influence, which consists of intangibles like his defensive efforts, timely baskets and encouraging words to younger players - all things that can't be measured in a boxscore. What can be measured, though, is Partizan's success by making it to the playoffs with a young team. As Kecman leads them into the playoffs against Maccabi Electra, he knows that an important sixth man could be key for his team. "Moving to Belgrade Arena for the playoffs is a great chance for all of our fans to come see us and support us in such important games," Kecman said. "Only 8,000 people fit at Pionir, but Belgrade Arena has room for 22,000 fans. It will be a great atmosphere that can make the difference for us."

Partizan is one of the five teams in the playoffs for a third consecutive season. How has the season been from your point of view?

"It has been a very tough season for us, especially since nobody expected us to get such important results in the Euroleague. Nobody gave us many chances to survive our regular season group at the beginning of this Euroleague season. We took an early home loss against Unicaja but quickly managed to beat Orleans on the road. We started to play better soon after that. We needed some time because this is a totally different team compared to last season. A lot of major players left the club. As soon as we started to get used to each other and play together, we started to play much better, surviving the regular season and the Top 16."

Now your team faced Maccabi, a classic Final Four team, in the playoffs. What do you think about your opponents in this series?

"Maccabi is a team with a lot of tradition and several Euroleague titles. There is no need to talk much about what they mean in European club basketball. As always, they have a lot of good players at each position. It is always difficult to play in front of their fans with a full gym. It will not be easy to play in Nokia Arena, because Maccabi did not go to the Final Four last season and it is also a good chance for them, too. They have good players and a great coach, but I am sure we will be ready to play against them, because we need to win in Tel Aviv if we want to advance."

Maccabi has the homecourt advantage and is therefore the favorite - with all the pressure that implies. How much of a factor could that be?

"Well, maybe they have a little bit more pressure, but I think that the homecourt advantage is a way more important issue than pressure. We play twice against them in Tel Aviv next week and see it as a double chance to win in there. We already got great results this season and have nothing to lose. Of course, we will try to achieve an even bigger success by reaching the Final Four. We want to show everyone that we didn't make it to the Quarterfinal Playoffs by accident. We are very motivated and hope to play really well."

Before winning the Euroleague title with Panathinaikos last season, you played against Partizan before record-setting crowds at Belgrade Arena. Now you will be back with thost team in Belgrade Arean. How special will that be?

"Playing at Pionir Arena has helped us to get where we are right now. Of course, moving to Belgrade Arena for the playoffs is a great chance for all of our fans to come see us and support us in such important games. Only 8,000 people fit at Pionir, but Belgrade Arena has room for 22,000 fans. It will be a great atmosphere that can make the difference for us. I don't need to mention how important our fans are for Partizan. Without them, we wouldn't have had the success we had this far."

Partizan last made it to the Final Four in 1998. What would it mean for you and the club to go back in the big event?

"It is tough, of course, and it would be great to be there, but we cannot even think about it right now. We still have a long, tough way in front of us. Of course, making it to the Final Four would be an incredible success for a club like ours. Nobody would have believed it at the beginning of the season, but again, the only way to make it is to take one game at the time. We have to focus on the next game, try to win it and take it from there."
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Euroleague.net
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