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Igor Kokkov’s return to the club in Europe after a 20-year stint in the NBA still does not remind the Serb of a dream start.
Only one win in the last seven games at the Fenerbahche in Istanbul has brought basketball players to 14th place. In total: 5 wins and 9 losses.
Kokoškovas, who replaced Željkas Obradovičius as head coach, is a coach of a similar style, as M. Schiller, the helmsman of Žalgiris: both build the philosophy of the game around the American positive, both are Euroleague debutants, hailing from the NBA environment.
During Thursday’s battle, the Austrian, who will lead Žalgiris, will shrug off a coach he has known well in Utah.
“I know Igor well. We worked together for a year in Utah when he was Quin Snyder’s first assistant at the Jazz Club. I know and respect him well. There are some similarities in our situations. The difference is that he has much more experience, already who worked as the head coach of the NBA club, won the European Championship with Slovenia and led the Georgia team for several years. There are similarities, but if we look closely, there are not that many, “said Schiller.
photo Getty Images /euroleague.net/Igoris Kokoškovas
If the Kaunas team shines in the attack, 116.3 points per 100 attacks is the second result of the tournament, then the Fenerbahce attack is the penultimate: only 103.3 points per 100 attacks.
The impact of I. Kokoškovas’ soldiers from the two-point zone also appears poor: 51.2 percent. (Position 16).
“The most important thing in defense is to know your opponent perfectly and figure out how to prepare for this challenge in 24 hours,” said Schiller. – I think that’s the most important thing. Why? Because first you need to win an individual battle. The more you win, the greater your chances of winning. Second, Fenerbahche exploits the individual strengths of its basketball players. We don’t have time to give the players everything on the tactical side of the opponents’ team play, so the preparation is a bit different than having three days off. Focusing on the personal qualities of our competitors should help us tomorrow. “
Although the future competitor of “Žalgiris” was overtaken by COVID-19 this season, no new positive cases were registered at the club, when practically everyone changed last spring, but the injuries could not be avoided.
Leader Nando De Colo spent a month due to a calf injury.
In the last two games, ALBA Berlin (89:63) and Olimpia Milan (79:71) have joined the Turkish club, and in these games, the team that translated the new page after the departure of J. Obradvoic was not saved by the returning Frenchman.
Euroleague.net nuotr./Nando De Colo
This season, N. De Colo accumulates 11.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 interceptions, 3.2 assists in just over 23 minutes, but he makes an error of 3.2 times and corrects 13.9 of utility balo.
“The team and Nando are changing very strongly,” said the Žalgiris strategist. – He is a player of the highest skill. If it’s not there, the difference in the game is huge. There is no doubt that we cannot deny it. Stuck on a basketball court is relative because everything happens from game to game. An always new story. It may sound boring when I keep repeating it, but we can emphasize it for them as well as for ourselves. Fenerbahce had great and bad games. After all, it is already a group of newly gathered people. Sometimes a team needs more time to play. For Fenerbahche, it is a matter of time. Of that I am sure, because there are many great players in the team and a very good coach. They will return to where they depend. “
Euroleague.net nuotr./Edgaras Ulanovas
Edgaras Ulanovs, a longtime resident of Žalgiris, has also been wearing a Tenerife jersey this season. contract in euros.
Although the left-handed striker made his strong debut, later with the team’s poor results, the Lithuanian’s role was weak – during the last ten games Ule recorded an average of only 3.2 points.
There are 10 legionaries in the Istanbul club, so in the local championships, five of their matches must be viewed from the side. The Lithuanian forward missed the last two matches of the Turkish Championship, but played all 14 Euroleague matches. On average, after 24 minutes, during which – 4.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists.
“Obviously it is a very talented team. They’ve been making great use of all five lately, especially on the defense line with DyShawn Pierre and Edgar Ulanov. These basketball players give size, we must take it into account and prepare for it. In addition, it is a dynamic, talented and well-trained team. We expect a difficult match, “said M. Schiller.
Nigel Hayes’ play in third position will be important in responding to the physicality and size of opponents, thus shifting more to the role of heavyweight forward Augustine Rubit, who has been shining lately.
“Nigel is doing a great job. His size and strength in third position when playing in the Euroleague is very necessary, because almost every opponent can offer it, shared M. Schiller. – Nigel will need to cover the position of a light forward, and it shows that he does a great job at all times. We are very happy with Nigel. In the absence of Patric (Garino) and Steve (Vasturia), we have to use Nigel more in third position and Augustine Rubit even more in fourth. We have than moving tall players to slightly lower positions. But I’ll repeat that Nigel is doing a good job. “
The start of the match between “Žalgiris” and “Fenerbahče” – Thursday in Kaunas at 8 pm
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