Despite a hard-fought win over Usak in the Turkish League on Sunday, Anadolu Efes coach Ergin Ataman believes that there is a serious character issue within the team.
The win over Usak maintains the Istanbul side’s place in the top four of the domestic league, but they will finish the EuroLeague season rock bottom of the table with just six wins from 29 games played.
Their latest loss, a 107-83 thrashing at the hands of fellow EuroLeague strugglers Barcelona was seen by a meagre 1,920 fans in the 16,000-seated Sinan Erdem Dome. It was a sorry state of affairs on that night – but despite the win on Sunday over a strong Usak side – Ataman is not happy.
“There’s a serious character issue in this team, and if it continues this way, everything is going to change,” Ataman said.
“We just got two points today. I do not think that we got the win. I told that in the locker room as well. The players will be seriously punished, professionally. We have applied different punishments, but this time it will be professional.
“Such a reaction after the game against Barcelona in a competition where we claim to be the champions is a really bad indication.”
Ataman took charge of Anadolu Efes back in December but has been unable to change the fortunes of the side, especially in the EuroLeague.
