A positive sign for Žalgiris fans: M. Schiller’s innovations and a step forward | Euroleague

Despite the defeat, it was a step forward for the residents of Kaunas. After 4 standoffs in the Euroleague and a poor weekend in the LKL Championship, we saw a response from players struggling with a completely different energy, as well as from the squad of M. Schiller and his coaches, who were finally shocked with new tactical ideas. The defeat at the tournament table will remain a defeat, but the match was very different from last week’s clash in Tel Aviv, where M. Schiller and his students played in a single basket both tactically and physically. Let’s dive into the details of the match with CSKA and break down the highlights of the match.

Tactical changes in “Žalgiris”

P.Jankūnas performance in the starting fifth, 1-3-1 zone defense after one minute breaks and several times after penalty kicks, much higher position of “Žalgiris” side during defense: these were the main ideas of the Žalgiris coach for the match with CSKA. The ideas that we missed in the previous game, when, knowing the plays of Žalgiris, his rivals easily overcame the firewall towards the basket.

45 points lost in the first half of the game and 87 in total, numbers that must be reduced even more. However, the positivity of these indicators is given by the way in which they were obtained. CSKA scored a particularly high number of points with a difficult serve in the 1v1 game. Not every team can boast of having James and W. Clyburn, so we really won’t see such pitches in every game.

Eriko Ovcharenko / 15min nuotr./Rungtynių akimirka

Attempts were made to beat the rhythm of Moscow’s game with a 1-3-1 field defense. We saw it in the first attack of the second quarter and it was applied more only after the minutes of rest or free throws. It was also a great way to defend against D.Itoudis’s combinations with special endings drawn during breaks. The effectiveness of this defense is also justified by the numbers: in 5 attacks, using this defense, CSKA was unable to attack. It is true that 2 out of 5 times they made free throws, but they failed to finish them off with accurate shots.

The next change was not so clear: the Kaunas talls in 2v2 situations found their opponents playing much taller. In the last matches J. Lauvergne, M. Geben, A. Rubit picenrole appeared in the gray area – between the defender and the tall man covered by him. This situation cost countless points for Žalgiris and the victory over Real.

With CSKA, these tall men relied on James and Hackett over the triples and didn’t allow for an effort. They were forced to send the ball further or retreat and it turned Pikenrolo Defense is one of “Žalgiris” strong points in this match. Kaunas residents also used the exchange defense much more, which also concentrated the corridors towards the penalty area and did not provide as many advantages as easily as side passive defense.

CSKA attack playing towards the basket

Naturally, minus one thing, a versatile team like CSKA found other opportunities in attack. In the first part of the match, it was a game in the penalty area. Even before the game, many questions arose about how to stop W. Clyburn, T.Shengelia’s cross into the penalty area for lack of inches. After the exchanges, there was no shortage of episodes, when Žalgiris’ even smaller defenders approached them, so here they had to use doubles on the baseline.

A small problem: in the first half of the match, neither the singles nor these doubles worked. The guests scored up to 23 of the 45 points obtained in the first half of the game, after situations created when playing at the basket. What was missing were faster rotations after the ball bounces; recognize when duplication is necessary and when not; greater physique by not allowing him to participate in deep positions in the penalty area; understand which of the residents of Kaunas should duplicate.

However, even here in the second half of the match, the bright side can be seen: after the break, Kaunas residents performed doubles and saved much more effectively, which did not allow CSKA to win a single (!) Point after such situations. The people of Žalgiris always managed to send their center to the rescue, whose tall height and long arms made it difficult to launch long shots across the field.

Explanations of crucial moments

It wouldn’t be a match against the best team if it closes well enough picenrole, minus the twist of the game, it wouldn’t open another Pandora’s box.

Towards the middle of the third quarter, there was a kind of hiatus in the game (or at least in the minds of CSKA leaders M.James and W. Clyburn). The Americans, who ranked 2nd and 3rd in terms of points won in the Euroleague, decided to look much further for their shots in attack and to fix problems in the last seconds of attacks. This was something dictated by the defense ideas offered by Žalgiris.

Žalgiris’s attack is not worth discussing much. Led by three defenders: Th.Walkupas, M.Grigonis and R.Jokubaitis picenrole (two against two) and transfer (passing the ball from hand to hand) the attack didn’t look bad again. N. Milutinov’s passive defense was highlighted by the defenders’ long-range shots from the penalty area and A. Rubit’s rebounds under the barrier at mid-range. The courage, aggression and shooting of R. Jokubaitis after a quick save pushed L. Leekavičius to fourth position in the Kaunas attack.

Eriko Ovcharenko / 15min nuotr./Rokas Jokubaitis

However, this attack was further unleashed by the hosts’ success on defense, allowing Kaunas to counterattack. A quick attack adds even more efficiency to this attacking machine: in the fourth half they managed to rack up even 6 lighter points after a good defense.

After long suffering, chasing opponents every match, his fate was determined by three corner attacks and the individual dominance of CSKA players. 2 and a half minutes before the end of the match and with the guests leading by 2 points, the Moscow attack stalled when “Žalgiris” switched under the barriers. W. Clubburn stayed with A. Rubit in front of him and his pitch rebounded after dribbling between his legs and reached the goal.

After 4 precise penalties from Kaunas, CSKA’s lead was just 1 point (78:79) in less than a minute. This time M. James already found A. Rubitas in front of him. At the time, most of the people in the arena probably knew that we would see Step back back off and throw from a distance. That’s what happened: the ball skimmed the net and CSKA became invulnerable in a single attack.

Criticisms of A. Rubitas? Certainly not, just another situation where defense is good, but attack is even better. If he got too close, M. James would easily overlook him and get a shot from under the basket or create a free three-point team for his friends. This is the risk of currency defense and you must accept it. Especially when it helps to deal more deeply Pikenrolo defense issues.

With 43 seconds to go and -4, the ideal, achievable and probably the only option for Kaunas to win the match was to try to make 2 attacks and leave CSKA in just 1. So he took a slow pitch in about 10 seconds . Schiller decided to use the well-known combination of “Žalgiris”, whose objective is to attack N. Milutinov. release defense with A. Rubit bouncing behind the wall. However, D.Itoudis planned to advance here, ordered to change all barriers (expected), thus abolishing this option. The attack lasted, but A. Rubitas still put the ball in the entrances of the penalty area against the minor M.James.

Although R. Jokubaitis said after the game that it is important not to stand still and cross the basket when someone is crossing, in this situation I would be inclined not to agree with him. His center to the penalty area, A.Rubitas was already preparing to shoot down M.James, he took it to N.Milutinov of 213 cm high in the triple, who managed to prevent A.Rubitas from launching a shot, thus creating chaos in the penalty area, where R. Jokubaitis himself made a mistake after a moment. After the mistake, the fate of the match was clear, and the lead was graced by another supernatural three-point M.Mames.

Summary

Positive sign for all Žalgiris fans. The innovations in the game of “Žalgiris” and the energy of the players forced the well-equipped and trained CSKA team to sweat a lot in Kaunas, which achieved victory only thanks to the performances of individual talents of the highest quality.