[ad_1]
“We just realized that we were not playing as we wanted. We will see what the situation will be like. Until now, we are analyzing it carefully: who, where and how. It is possible that something will change and we will become stronger. The objective is clear, the investment is high, so we will definitely do everything we can to improve those results. We understand that so far it is only the month of October, everyone needs time, but someone must take responsibility, “said P. Motiejūnas, who said he had allocated 7.2 million from LTL to players and coaches this season euros.
“Žalgiris” started the season in the Euroleague last week, when Vilerbane landed for the ASVEL team (76:88).
Basketball experts were quick to wash the team’s coach, Martin Schiller, for poor defense, lack of system, and the team’s poor performance in the Euroleague. Not only that, although Kaunas residents won all four Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) matches, they weren’t easy and inspiring either.
“It just came to our attention then. The beginning is not what we expected. We do not run away, we fix everything inside, there is no panic, there is work we have to do”, – said P. Motiejūnas.
In the match with ASVEL, the only Janis Strielnek left a slightly better impression on the Kaunas team. The 32-year-old Latvian scored 21 points (4/6 trit.) In the match and scored 23 utility points. Team leader Emmanuel Mudiay, 25, scored 12 points (3/8 dvit.), Bounced 4 balls, made 5 errors and scored 10 utility points.
It is true that the decisions of the NBA legionnaire on the field did not resemble the organizer of the upper league attacks, and his body language was not the most pleasant: after errors or failures in defense, the basketball player to often expressed dissatisfaction.
It is difficult to talk about the new American Tyler Cavanaugh or the German Niels Giffey until now, because they are not very visible in the square. The same can be said for Josh Nebo.
Still, fans were hoping for a bigger contribution from the returning Lithuanians Edgaras Ulanovas and Mantas Kalnietis, but their play is still uninspiring.
E. Ulanov, 29, in 27 minutes. Vilerbane scored just 5 points and scored 0 utility points. M. Kalnietis, 36, in 10 minutes. he scored 2 points, made the same number of assists and bounced the same number of balls and scored 7 utility points. It is true that the captain of the Lithuanian national team currently plays as an offensive defender, not as a player, in the systems of M. Schiller.
Despite the foggy start to the “Žalgiris” season, P. Motiejūnas assures that the team’s goal is one: to enter the “Top 8” stage of the Euroleague.
“Previously, the Euroleague paid a bonus for winning the round tables, now that the income is fixed: 1.5 million euros. Therefore, it is necessary to change the objective. Now our objective, with such a team and how we put it together , is to strive to enter the Top 8. The fact that we have such a goal and try to achieve it, “said P. Motiejūnas.
However, for Schiller, this goal is likely to be difficult to achieve and the coach himself is receiving increasing criticism. Admittedly, his Austrian coach also listened last season when he posted a 6-game losing streak in November. After her, a serious conversation took place within the team, in which the voice of P. Motiejūnas was heard louder.
“The conversations are part of the job, I am always with the team, I communicate with both the coaches and the players. I’d really like him to come talk and suddenly things would change. We are really communicating, there were those conversations, we will see if they are useful ”, – the director spoke about the current situation at the club.
“Žalgiris” will play the first home games of this season on Thursday. Basketball players from Zenit St. Petersburg come to Kaunas. The Russians started the season in Europe with a victory, when after a tenacious fight for 70:69 the “Uniks” from Kazan overcame.
According to P. Motiejūnas, 10,000 have already been sold for this match. Tickets. Lrytas.lt remember that this season “Žalgiris” can fill 75%. seats in the sand (about 11.5 thousand).
The Euroleague duel in Kaunas will begin on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. Follow the events of the match on the portal. lrytas.lt.
