Thirteen months after joining Real Madrid after two disappointing seasons in the NBA, Vincent Poirier (2.13 m, 28 years old) was quick to become the dominant player he was on the European scene with Vitoria. Particularly successful during the series of playoffs against Maccabi Tel-Aviv (10.7 points at 64%, 5.7 rebounds and 2 blocks for 17.3 evaluation), the former pivot of Paris-Levallois and Hyères -Toulon is tackling its first EuroLeague Final Four.
24 hours before the start of serious things, a semi-final against FC Barcelona, the French international stopped five minutes at the microphone of L’Équipe and BeBasket.
Vincent Poirier Wednesday during the point with the media
(photo : EuroLeague)
Vincent, a EuroLeague Final Four, is it even bigger than you expected?
Well I haven’t started yet! There are more journalists than in Liga Endesa already… You feel it’s a big event. It’s my first Final Four so I’m pleasantly surprised. I can’t wait for it to start, I can’t wait to see how the first game will be, etc.
What does it mean to you to reach the highest European level?
Many things. It’s a lot of work because I come from far away. Being here with so many talented players shows how far we’ve come. It shows that I want more. It shows above all that I can win the EuroLeague so we have to work there.
You will face FC Barcelona in the semi-finals. Does it add a little more spice that it’s the intimate enemy in front?
Of course, it’s a Clasico, it’s Barcelona, people tell us about it. They finished first in both championships, ahead of us each time. Afterwards, it’s still a Final Four semi-final so it could have been Olympiakos or Efes that it would have been the same pressure. We, the players, it does not add to the fact that it is Barcelona. We just tell ourselves that it’s a big team, that we will have to defend hard and attack them.
“The impression of making good career choices at the moment”
You have lost five times this season against Barca this season. What consequences does that have?
None. We won the Supercup, they won the Cup. That’s all I remember. There you go, ball in the center now. Regular season games… (huffs to show he doesn’t care) I forget what happened before. We learned and we know them by heart now. Tomorrow, it will be whoever has the most and who goes into battle.
You went through an extremely difficult phase in the spring. What were the keys to Real’s recovery?
These are the ups and downs of a season. It happens to be a little less often… We lost a title against Barcelona, that put us in a bit of trouble. Behind, we still lose two or three games. It gets us a bit into the sauce and mentally, we can’t find each other. The EuroLeague playoffs arrive and then you refocus, you work and it starts again.
You have been at Real Madrid for a year. That’s it, are you well integrated, with a significant role?
It’s Real Madrid so the role, you have to work to get it. I tried to show as much as possible of what I was capable of, to be pleasant with my teammates and that they trust me. I’m an easy going person, it’s not too hard to get along with me but they made me feel welcome when I signed here. Being here, with this team… I like it!
There are four French people in the locker room: are you the one setting the mood?
Who told you (he laughs)? In the locker room, we talk a lot, yes! We are four French people so inevitably, it takes up space. It’s not necessarily us who put on the music, etc., but we get along well, we laugh a lot.
“I’m working on my dribble and my shot to be Evan’s back-up”
There will be eight French people in the Final Four this weekend: what does that inspire you?
The quality of the French players, of our formation is recognized. What do you want me to tell you? What are we the best? We are the best (he smiles). There are a lot of big players, there is even AS Monaco which was on the verge of the Final Four. French players are increasingly exported to big teams. It is very good !
Everything has been going well for you since your return from the NBA… Olympic vice-champion, in the Final Four with Real Madrid, is there anything worse?
I feel like I’m making good career choices right now. I’ve been on the right track for a while now. There are plenty of deadlines with Real Madrid and the France team. From this summer, we will try to do the maximum. From the end of June window? If the coach calls me, I’ll be there!
What do you think of the possible arrival of Joel Embiid with the Blues? We saw on Twitter that you took it with humor…
I’m going to start playing 2/3 in EDF, apparently there are spots for the summer
— Vincent Poirier (@viinze_17P) May 2, 2022
I come to the France team because I enjoy coming with the guys. I represent my country. It makes me love to go there! It takes me half my summer, well… After that, if we take someone other than me, too bad. I already have three medals. No, two. Three with that of this golden summer! Me, I like it. There, I’m working on my dribbling, my shooting, to be Evan’s back-up. It will be alright.
In Belgrade,
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