One month to the day after the recall of Sasa Obradovic on the Monegasque bench, the Roca Team has found an exciting face in the Euroleague and, above all, results. The players of the Rock won in Munich Thursday night (83-78), a direct competitor in the race for the play-offs. The Monegasques illustrated on the Bavarian parquet floor the new values instilled by their coach, starting with a renewed defensive solidarity.
Even the early mistakes of Alpha Diallo, Monaco’s best outside stopper, did not destabilize the defensive structure. Donatas Motiejunas took over, like a magnificent counter on Othello Hunter who was spinning into the dunk. On the other side of the pitch, the Roca Team quickly realized that they were going to have a special night, behind the arch and thanks to Mike James.
If the Bavarian Corey Walden (26 points, 5 winning shots) was the first player to ignite long-distance shooting, the Monegasque response was collective and spectacular. With a 12 out of 17 at three points, or 70.6% success, Monaco messed up the plans of Andrea Trinchieri, powerless in front of the address of Danilo Andjusic (16 points) and others.
James a not lonely recital
The other poison for the Bavarian defense was more expected: Mike James. Qualified for ” best non-NBA player By the Italian coach of Bayern, the American leader did honor to these praises. Reinvigorated since the arrival of Sasa Obradovic, he shone (26 points, 5 of 7 three points) and shine (6 assists).
James took the game in hand in the last minutes when Bayern, a time behind (56-66, 32nd), began to believe in a spectacular return. “The Natural” registered three increasingly difficult award-winning shots. The last, on the head of Vladimir Lucic (79-72, 39th), sealed the match in an Audi Dome behind closed doors.
« We played hard defensively, we did what the coach told us. In attack, sometimes we play a bit selfishly but it went well tonight. Mike (James) scored some amazing shots that helped us beat this team Donatas Motiejunas smiled at the Euroleague microphone.
After having stopped its fall in the standings, Monaco are looking upwards again. The Roca Team (8 wins – 11 losses) comes back to Bayern, to a victory of the top 8, its objective. Another direct competitor awaits Sasa Obradovic’s players: Asvel, on Tuesday at Astroballe.
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