Mike James took the last shot, at the buzzer and backing up, from a distance and forcing, and the hoop pushed the ball away. The American back could have made people forget his team’s non-match and the rise on the wire of Kaunas, his opponent, who passed in front for the first time in the game 16 seconds from the end. He could also have caused the fault and simply moved up the point that separated Monaco from the Lithuanians from the free throw line, as Sasa Obradovic later regretted. But the Roca Team got what they deserved – an 83-82 defeat – and their coach didn’t want to overwhelm their star. “When you are a coach, you have to trust your players, blew the Serbian technician. IThey can win games with their instincts…”
Faced with the last of the Euroleague, his people were singularly lacking. The Monegasques remained on six victories in the last seven matches. Their opponents had won only three matches out of twenty-two, none of which were away from their base. But Thursday evening, the Lithuanians almost had to pick up the gift that a Roca Team gave them to the non-existent collective. “Offensively, the ball didn’t move much, can only see his rear Yakuba Ouattara. We were pretty static. Opposite, they made the match they needed, a straggler match. They were able to put the right shot to pass in front at the right time. They fought. They played very physical. » When the Monegasques suffered a slow backlash, relying on one-on-one, over and over again.
“It’s a defeat that hurts us a lot. It was truly a match not to be lost. If it will be fatal to us? I don’t think so, because we are an unpredictable team.”
With 10 points in the first quarter, Motiejunas first did the job, then there was James (18 points in total), Bacon (18 points) or Diallo (9 points, 5 fouls caused), but the meeting gradually turned in favor of Joffrey Lauvergne’s team. “At the point where we are, we don’t have much to gain or lose, underlines the French pivot of Kaunas. Our goal is more than just winning, it’s also about making a good impression and giving our all. »
The match changed in the heart of the third quarter, just after Monaco widened its biggest gap (+13). His coach yelled at his players after an opposing three-pointer scored unopposed, and a little louder on a second in a row. Timeout. But the gap will continue to decline. “It’s a defeat that hurts us a lot, acknowledges Ouattara. It was truly a match not to be lost. If it will be fatal to us? I don’t think so, because we are an unpredictable team. We are capable of beating everyone. » To access the play-offs, they have no choice but to show it.
