2024-04-27 13:46:15
Barcelona won Game 2 at home on Friday night 77-69 to level the quarterfinal series.
R. Jokubaitis spent 19 minutes on the court in this meeting, during which he scored 6 points (3/6 doubles, 0/1 triples), made 4 assists and recovered 3 balls.
The defender also scored an impressive two-pointer against ex-Žalgiris player Thomas Walkup.
“Defensively we played well in both games, but in the first game we made stupid mistakes and didn’t share the ball, which we did well in the second game. We learned our lessons from the first game and played well on Friday,” he told the website after the second leg in Barcelona mundodeportivo.com spoke R. Jokubaitis.
In the first meeting between the teams, which Barcelona lost 77:79, Roger Grimau’s students made 17 mistakes, while the Catalans made just 10 mistakes in the winning match.
“It is very important to match the level of physicality of the opponents, because we know that they are an incredible team in defense and together in attack. In the first match, we were inferior due to our low intensity, but this time we evened everything out. That will be the series. The team that will be physically and psychologically stronger will win this series,” R. Jokubaitis taught.
R. Jokubaitis also praised his teammate Jabari Parker, whom the Lithuanian called “the most talented player of the team”.
The forward scored 24 points (6/9 doubles, 4/7 triples), 5 rebounds and accumulated 22 utility points in the second match in Barcelona.
“When it’s his day and we find him in his favorite places, he can be incredible,” added R. Jokubaitis.
When asked about his role in the “Barcelona” team, R. Jokubaitis answered that he is used to playing as an attacking defender, but added that he still needs time to get used to it.
“It (adaptation – ed.) takes a little time, but if I can contribute to the team’s victories, I will play in the position where the coach wants me to play,” concluded R. Jokubaitis.
2024-04-27 13:46:15