Monaco no longer have the right to make mistakes against Olympiakos
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Monaco (AFP) – After their home defeat on Wednesday, Monaco have their backs against the wall and absolutely must beat Olympiakos on Friday (9:00 p.m.) to snatch a N.5 match and hope to win their ticket to the Euroleague Final Four.
“We are going to fight. We know how to do it (…) We believe in our qualification for the Final Four”, assures Paris Lee, the Monegasque leader who, on Wednesday, had the merit of registering two award-winning baskets in the final in this match N.3 of the quarter-finals, lost 87 to 83.
Led two wins to one, Monaco will have to be better in all areas. In defense, first. Sasa Obradovic lamented that his team collectively “failed” to counter the opposition’s best forwards, including Konstatinos Sloukas, of course, but also Thomas Walkup and Sasha Vezenkov.
The Serbian coach of the “Roca Team” also regretted the injury of his best defender Alpha Diallo, still very uncertain for this match N.4. His substitute Yakuba Ouattara, yet in the five majors, only spent three minutes on the floor and did not meet his coach’s expectations.
But he is not the only one: the entry of the Australian Brock Motum did not have the expected impact with only two minutes of play for a missed shot and a foul in stride.
If Monaco did not manage to defend against the opposing shooters, Leo Westermann’s teammates were also dominated in the racket by the French giants Livio Jean-Charles and, above all, Moustapha Fall.
Opposite, Donatas Motijunas and Donta Hall lacked consistency unlike Will Thomas, excellent but very alone. The defensive systems have been destabilized.
Better protect Mike James
However, the last quarter, won 25-16 by Monaco, brings hope. But they could only materialize with a rediscovered address and closer protection from Mike James.
Systematically put under pressure, the Monegasque star was never able to take a shot comfortably. He therefore sold at two points (0 out of 3), as at three (1 out of 6). Or, his address is not to question. Evidenced by his perfect 10/10 free throws.
Not sufficiently protected, he then turned into a smuggler. But his eight assists should have been more numerous if his partners had been more precise.
Westermann (0 out of 5, including a crucial attempt late in the game) is an example. Danilo Andjusic usually so skilled, too. The Serb, decisive in the N.2 match won 96 to 72 in Greece, only scored three points with famous percentages (25% at two points, 0% at three, 50% on free throws).
Between the two matches, the Monegasques had a few hours to prepare these “adjustments”, “analyze to return to battle”, as Westermann says.
Obradovic is counting on a group that is “totally regenerated” physically and which “has evacuated its frustration” to make the Greek giant falter and hope to play a “final” in the boiling Stade de la Paix et de l’Amitié next week.
© 2022 AFP