Hayes summarized the great passage: “The truth is that Jankūnas is the best player in the Euroleague” / News

Photo: Imago Images – Scanpix

Photo: Imago Images – Scanpix

Photo: Imago Images – Scanpix

Photo: Imago Images – Scanpix

Photo: Imago Images – Scanpix

Nigel Hayes, who unleashed the attack on Žalgiris with three-point attacks in a difficult match in Berlin, came close to a personal record. The 26-year-old forward scored 18 points and 24 utility points, and missed a utility point in the Euroleague tournament for the best of the latter.

After Steve Vastura’s fall to the brink, Hayes shines in the brightest colors. The American, who scored 3 of 4 pitches for the ALBA club in Berlin, was the most beneficial at the Žalgiris club, which closed 2020 and the first round of the Euroleague with five wins in a row.

“It was a tough match, as we expected,” Hayes told Žalgirio TV. – The (writing) board has been cleaned, but it says “play physically hard”. This was one of the main aspects, as they are good at hitting, playing very fast basketball, capable of passing well.

We knew that the more aggressive we were and the more we played physically, the more chance we had of winning. We have been successful and we have won. “

With the exception of a game with Bayern Munich, where he scored 3 points, Hayes averaged 13.5 points each in the remaining four games of the winning streak, with an overall season average of 9.4 points.

– Was anyone surprised by the ALBA defense? – Hayes asked Žalgiris TV.
– Looking at the video analysis, we noticed that they usually use a little help and we were ready for it, but during the match we noticed that ALBA no longer does it. And that brought a bit of confusion in the first part of the duel, as we expected of them. But suddenly we lost it. After a long break we managed to adapt to his game: the attack came in, the ball moved better, we noticed the pitches. The corrections introduced have paid off, the work of the coaches and the team is great.

Man of the match

– In the last month I had to move to the position of a light edge. How do you feel playing this role?
– I love the game in this position, I feel great. It allows me so much more on defense: I can trade with basketball players in fifth position, be it Joffrey Lauvergne or Martin Geben, as well as Paul Jankūnas. Our communication in defense with Jankūnas is excellent, we often confuse the attack of the opponents by taking positions. In the game we are the two smartest boys on the pitch.

I feel more involved in the attack, the ball gets more in my hands, whether it’s creating a game or making a pass, there are more advances at the same time. I enjoy playing in this position.

– First round of the Euroleague (Žalgiris won 10 times in 17 matches). How could you summarize it?
– Progress, that would be a word. We started out strong, then we ran into higher-level teams and then we had to rediscover ourselves to get out of that hole. The truth is that Jankūnas is the best player in the Euroleague (smiles). Once we were able to rediscover ourselves, now we are playing much better, adapting to the intensity, to the physique on defense, and that has helped us a lot.

The coach also urges us to be even more aggressive and attack when we have the opportunity. It highlights the corner kicks and it shows, for example, at the end of a match. With 40 seconds to go, it’s usually possible to hold the ball and burn time, but Artūras Milaknis took and flew a 3-pointer.

– Would the phrase “Trust the process” be appropriate?
– No, no … These are fatal defeats. Look, you said ‘trust the process’ and I said ‘prog-re-sas’.