David Blatt, head coach of Russian national basketball team is a respectful person in basketball world. His competence was proved in the match against Georgian national team, Russians guessed Georgian tactic well very soon and finally managed to beat “crusandars”. After the match Blatt stated that they did their best and as a result they achieved their goal. At the press-conference, head coach of Russian national team made a little comment about the match, but later he talked much about interesting topics with us.

- Georgian national team plays first time at European championship and it was not considered as a favorite. Did you expect that Georgians would show such resistance?
- To tell the truth, it was not unexpected for me. If you believe me, before the tournament, we were talking that the most decisive match in the first sub-group stage would be the match against Georgia. Two victories were very important for us and I am happy, that we achieved our goal. 
- You are supposed to know Georgians’ tactic well. What component was paid attention more against Georgians?
- Nothing is to hide. Our tactic was to stop Zaza Pachulia and Viktor Sanikidze. According to the previous matches they were more dangerous than others. To say it in a word, we reached our goal, because we won this match.
- You really played well against Pachulia..
- According to the statistic it is right.  But my attitude towards Zaza is unchangeable. You can write that I am a fan of Pachulia. He is brilliant basketball player as well as a person. I am always amazed with him and wish him success in the future. 
- You talked about neutralize Pachulia and Sanikidze, but Markoishvili caused much more problems to you.
- I know his possibilities very well and it was not surprising for me, that he became bombardier of the match. We could not do anything else against him due to our tactic. When you prepare the team to play individual game against two players, it is difficult to change anything during the match. It is true, that we could not manage to stop Markoishvili, but in spite of this I cannot say, that I made mistake to make such tactic for this match. If we lost the match I would talk in other way.
- Georgian team played two matches at European Championship. Your opinion about Georgian team is very interesting.
- Do not think that I make such comments because I am giving interview to Georgian journalists. Georgia has very good team and I am sure, that we will play against each other in Vilnius (the second sup-group stage holds in Vilnius). I liked how your team was playing and I told it to Kokoskov. According to the previous matches, Georgians have big chance of going through the next round.  A lot of things will be found out in Georgia-Bulgaria match. This match will be the most decisive.
- Let’s talk about Russian national team too. What can you say about competition of Russian team at Euro Basket?
- As fro Russian team, we have several advantages and disadvantages. So, I know what must be improved. We have time for improving situation and we will use upcoming days for it. As for the previous matches, the most pleasant was the match against Georgia. I always try not to appraise guys much, but now I want to say that Russian team played very well especially in the first half. It was very active match, everything was changing very fast. In spite of this, Georgian national team fought till the end and we hardly managed to win. That’s why I appraised Georgian team so much.
- What can you say about increasing numbers of participants at final stage of European Championship?
- I completely agree with the decision of FIBA. This decision is to make basketball more popular and how can I be against to it?! I like this kind of sport very much and I greet every step, which develops it. If they did not increase participants’ number, Georgian team would not compete at Euro Basket.  Believe me, it would be regress for basketball.
- What is your opinion about inviting naturalized basketball player for national team? Georgians have different opinion about this.
- My opinion is distinct about it. I am not against inviting foreign player, but I will never invite the player for national team, who has never played in the interior championship.  When the player has not contact to his national championship, his determination is not enough. As for Russian team, I want to remind JR Holden. He was playing for national team for 9 years, he did much for Russian national team.

Dato Manjavidze from Klaipeda