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It was a strange match that took place against all the trends that had taken place before that match.
Although fans are still unable to enter the Žalgiris Arena due to the COVID-19 pandemic, emotions were not lacking on Nemunas Island: the team was supported loudly from the stands by Kaunas club manager Paulius Motiejūnas, and the players they constantly encouraged each other.
After the match, Šarūnas Jasikevičius patted Martin Schiller on the shoulder, as if praising him for a good fight.
“I wish them good health and success,” Šarūnas Jasikevičius commented on the situation after the match.
It may seem unexpected, but Žalgiris was solid on defense. Martin Schiller’s troops recorded the best defensive game in the opening match in Piraeus, when Olympiakos allowed 67 points to be scored.
In the 34th minute of the match, Žalgiris’ deficit was still only 4 points (56:60), but in the end Barcelona, who had picked up the superstar, went home with a 73:62 victory . The Catalans made mistakes 24 times, when the Lithuanian champions – 17.
Nikola Mirotičius came to Kaunas as the most useful basketball player in the tournament (average 24.7), accumulating at least 20 PIR points in all matches, but the match on Nemunas Island did not happen for this Spaniard: 9 points 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 errors and 9 utility scores.
The hosts balanced in the first half to get the best result of the season. Istanbul’s Anadolu Efes (16) had so far subtracted the fewest points from Žalgiris in the first ten minutes, and this result was improved only at the last moment by Latvian Rolandas Šmitas, who scored three points from the edge of Square.
In terms of 3s, Kaunas “Žalgiris” was the best team in the Euroleague from distance (average 41.1%), but the first long shot was scored by Martin Schiller’s students early in the fourth quarter, when Nigel Hayes stopped 11 series of imprecise throws.
Žalgiris’s team finished the match – 2 of 18 (11.1%).
VIDEO: Shar’s unique press conference: about Roka, Marek, help for M. Schiller and “Žalgiriukas”
On Friday, “Žalgiris” basketball players set a Euroleague record of 17 intercepted balls this season. What is the best result in history? Bologna Kinder had hit 33 hard-fought balls in a duel with Estudiantes del Madrid 20 years ago.
The leader of Žalgirio, Marius Grigonis, also played the worst game, scoring 5 points in 25 minutes (2/3 doubles, 0/2 trit., 1/2 penalty), when before the game with Barcelona – 15.6 each. In this match, the Lithuanian missed the first free throw after 41 consecutive hits.
Another great match was recorded by the young Rokas Jokubaitis, who scored 15 points and repeated the best result of his short career. The defender once also charged from above, his first Euroleague placement during his career. But the next time the people of Kaunas really needed points, they slammed into the arch with resentment.
Next week, the Lithuanian champions will go to Athens, where they will meet Panathinaikos, who this week scalped Olympia Milan.
“Congratulations to the Barcelona team,” said Martin Schiller after the match. – Strigome fought for the ball in the first half, and the opponents benefited from it. We had better control over the board in the second half. It was a step forward. We played aggressive and active on defense, which allowed us to beat the ball and force our opponents to make mistakes. This is a good thing. In the attack we get caught up accumulating points. Sometimes it is too easy to look at the numbers and say that we only reached 11 percent. triples, but it really didn’t help us. It also depends on the opponent’s defense, but a better shot would have helped us, especially at the end of the game. I don’t know how the game would have ended with a better blow. “
Photo by Rokas Lukoševičius / 15min / Martin Schiller
– Artūras Milaknis has been hanging lately, what are the reasons?
– Milas is in very good sports shape. This is a great professional who is always ready. A few days ago we talked to you about whether everything revolves around it, hitting it or not. As long as you are free, you must resign. You can cast as much as you want while you are free. As long as you cast, everything is fine. I don’t always trust the +/- stats, but he missed the pitch today and had a balance of positive points. Not everything in basketball depends on points. It is important, but there is no need to worry about it.
– The next match on Sunday before Vilnius “Morning”, will the team be able to prepare and recover?
– Of course. We have a deep lineup, a team has been put together for us, and the fitness coaches are doing a good job. We will be ready to fight on Sunday.
– You caused the errors of 24 opponents and you won 17 balls yourself. Is it the result of better defense?
– A big step forward in defense. When it comes to aggression, what matters is what you do on defense and how active your hands are. Yes, I think it was a good step forward. We were the ones who worked on it.
Photo by Rokas Lukoševičius / 15min / Kaunas “Žalgiris” – Barcelona “Barcelona”
– How important was such an active spare bank?
– We talked about it last week, we emphasized it. I think the players did well in the match because that was the main theme. The arena is empty, we cannot load the fans because there are none, so the input of the reserve players is very important. They need to be active. Its volume can be affected even if there are no fans. We talked about it, we wanted to improve it and the substitute players did a great job.
– How good is it to have so much support from Paul Motiejūnas from the stands?
– Very well. Paul’s support is very good, very sincere. We are together on this ship. Try to push the team forward from all angles to improve and advance. I can not complain
Rokas Lukoševičius / 15min photo / The emotions of Paulius Motiejūnas in the Euroleague match
– What did Šarūnas Jasikevičius tell you before and after the game?
– Staying healthy was the main thing. I have mentioned before that the fact that Shar called me when I got a job in Žalgiris was very nice. We talk about the situation, about the club. It was a nice gesture from Shar. It was very nice to get a call from him. This is the first time we’ve met live. It was nice to shake hands and see us. We wish each other good luck.
– At the beginning of the season, you said that at the beginning of the season you felt a little pressure to fill the shoes that Shar left. Was there an extra desire to beat him and prove something to himself and the players?
– I can’t remember that because I never felt pressure. Others may feel it, but not me. Be and work here … You know, he’s a club legend both as a player and as a coach. He is a son of this club. The shadow of the charcoal is large and clear. I felt this when I started working. It already is, there’s nothing wrong with that. But I never felt pressure.
– You have recently played against 5 of the top 8 teams in the Euroleague. How long do you wait for December, when relatively weaker competitors expect?
– Frankly, I don’t see this situation that way. Better or worse team, higher or lower budget club, I’m just looking at the next matches. That must be the case. The Euroleague reminds me of the NBA, where results are calculated from game to game, and results are sometimes difficult to explain. The calendar is tight for everyone, in the Euroleague and in the local tournament. Injuries and fatigue. In comparison, Valencia beat Barcelona in a great game a few days ago at the ACB Championship, it was fun to watch both teams, and two days later they played at home against ALBA. Berlin does not have multiple players due to injuries or a virus, it is at the bottom of the table, but it came and won. I mean that space and budgets don’t matter because everything happens from one party to another. It may sound strange, but it is.
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