2024-12-18 00:12:00
Several Parisian players have taken stock following their team’s defeat to Real Madrid at the Adidas Arena on Tuesday. The second consecutive in the Euroleague.
After its extraordinary streak of 14 consecutive victories, Paris Basketball remains with three defeats. The last one, Tuesday, at the Adidas Arena, against Real Madrid (85-96), for the 16th matchday. A match during which the Parisians were deprived of several elements, including TJ Shorts. Too much against the people of Madrid. And AS Monaco took the opportunity to regain the top of the table. Fenerbahçe arrives in Paris on Thursday.
Maodo Lo (leader of Paris Basket, author of 30 points during the 85-96 defeat against Real Madrid ) : “It was very tough… We were missing players and Real Madrid is very strong. Fatigue? This is normal, the season is very long. Sometimes there are difficult phases. We’re in a little phase like that. And on Thursday we have another game to play, another chance to win. (on his exceptional game) Yes… but we lost. It’s more important to win games. Missing TJ shorts? It’s very important for this team. He knows the systems, he goes very fast, he is very good in this team. So obviously it’s very difficult if it’s missing… But we are a team. This is a time when other players need to take responsibility. Status pressure after the streak? NO. We move forward game after game, we try to concentrate every time, moving forward with the loser’s mentality. We don’t consider ourselves a team that has to win every game or even the title, get to the Final Four… game after game. You have to stay humble. The season is long, we’re not even halfway through. This kind of difficult time can happen. Players withdrawn, sick, injured… Once again we have to concentrate, fight and play our game. Mandatory win against Fenerbahçe? NO. Our goal is to win. I hope we play well. But the result… I can only hope it is good (smiles). The Euroleague is very tough. The start of the season was excellent for us. And our goal is to win every match. But I don’t think it’s an obligation. We face Fenerbahçe, they are also a great team, they will try to win and this is the beauty of sport.”
Collin Malcolm (Paris basketball winger) : “What was missing? A little concentration on certain actions and that’s enough to lose in the Euroleague… We fought well, but it wasn’t enough. You have to play 40 minutes to beat a strong team like Real. Is Real acceptable? It’s always frustrating to lose, whether it’s by 20 points or 4 points, whether you’re close to winning or not. (on the attention the club attracts) We don’t pay much attention to all this. Above all, we try to be focused to do our job. If you pay too much attention to this kind of thing, it’s a distraction. The important thing is to play and be ready for every match. Fatigue? Look, we make our living from basketball, we’re privileged people. I will never complain, say I’m tired or anything. It’s our job. And it asks you to be ready every night, whatever the circumstances. Fenerbaçe? This is the last match of the first leg. This is another historic team. It will be great to face them, I can’t wait to play again on Thursday, putting this defeat behind me and trying to win another match.
We had a target on our backs. Now perhaps, somewhat paradoxically, we will regain this outsider status, even if we are still at the top of the table. Maybe this will be more successful for us.
Lion Knight
Léo Cavalière (Paris basketball winger) : “What was missing? This little ounce that constitutes our identity, this energy, running, being on all the balls. We knew that was the key. We did it. But there was a bit of a shortage… To compensate for the absences we had to double our efforts in this regard. And I think we can still go a little further on this. We have slightly particular game principles compared to other teams. We live and die by this, we know. When there is less skill, which shouldn’t affect us, we have to stay 100% ourselves and make these shots which are sometimes a little more complicated. It’s us. That’s how we made this incredible series that ended last week. And that’s how we’ll be starting one again very soon. The absences? It wasn’t easy because we learned of some withdrawals at the last minute, others left mid-race. Heavy legs? Mine are fine (smiles). But in any case the other teams also have the same program. This is not an excuse. Morale achieved? I do not believe. We had a target on our backs. Now perhaps, somewhat paradoxically, we will regain this outsider status, even if we are still at the top of the table. Maybe this will be more successful for us. I don’t think we’re a team that thinks too much, in the good sense of the term, we won’t worry. We will continue to move forward and impose our game. We try not to adapt to what is happening in front of us or around us. We want to impose our identity. Real? I approached this match like the others. There was this media buzz, the front page of L’Équipe… We had already faced other big teams. He had little, if any, influence on my match.
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