Elite (31st day). Chase Simon (JDA Dijon): “The public, we always try to feed off their energy”
On the eve of the match against Limoges, we spoke with American winger Chase Simon, author of 16, 17 and 10 points in his last three games with the JDA against Monaco, Le Portel and Paris.
Chase, we are in the decisive sprint and this match against Limoges, which is starting this series, is very important.
“We know that the battle is very close for the playoffs, we let a few games avoid us, and we must correct that, play hard until the end to secure our place in the playoffs, with above all a good ranking. This match is important, we know that it will be difficult to regain the advantage of the first leg (defeat 82-57), but we have to get the win, that’s essential. »
With the injury, we feel that you have had more trouble with your three-point shot this season (35% in 2020-2021, 30% since September), but it has come back well in recent weeks.
“Coming back from injury is never easy. I always played with an embarrassment that persisted with each of my returns. I didn’t feel 100% but recovered enough to help my team. At the beginning, we were in the negative in the standings, and I did my best to help the team, on positions 1 and 2 sometimes. It took me 2-3 games each time to really pick up the pace. »
“I still gained a certain respect compared to the season that I did last season”
Chase Simon, JDA Dijon
Often, David (Holston) and Khadeen (Carrington) are very much watched. And you have a key role, with Robin (Ducoté) or Charles (Galliou), to be a decisive third threat away from home.
“This year, my injuries prevented me from really being myself all year, and the teams were probably less focused on me than they could be before. But I still acquired a certain respect compared to the season that I did last season, and in certain meetings, I was able to prove that I could still bring a lot of things. David played big games, Khadeen too, and I try to be their relay because I know I can be when I’m healthy. »
The two home games, with the support of your home crowd, will be important for your playoff goal.
“The public will clearly have an important role to play. We always try to feed on their energy, to feed their flame when they are heard on the decisions of the referees that they do not like. (he smiles). It’s always important that we take the public with you, that we show our emotions, our disappointment with decisions, because that created an atmosphere where we sent a lot of people behind us and that gives us even more want to fight for them, and not disappoint them. »
Your last outing against Monaco was very successful…
“Yeah, the atmosphere was really great. It’s a match for which we were really well prepared. Some people probably wrote that we could lose this match, but we first wanted to think that we could also win this match. We went to the field, we took our chance and we won it. If you enter the field saying to yourself ” it would be logical to lose, you have already lost a little ””.