2024-05-13 07:00:30
During the third quarter, Andrea Trinchieri‘s army allowed the players from Mazeiki to score only 5 points.
“He had a lot of playoff series during his career. And the same stories repeat themselves. Today everything was very, very bad at the beginning.
We started without fighting for the ball, without defense, without energy, – A. Trinchieri assessed the first match of “Žalgiris” series at the press conference. – The second half was just a little bit better. But we played without the right attitude and the right energy.
I asked the players to do their work during the break. I asked him to play one good half. And we called it magical now. We won the third quarter 28-5 and that gave us wings.”
Even before the beginning of the series, the Italian assured that he felt that “M Basket” could invent certain traps for Kaunas. Especially since “Žalgiris” did not play the match at home, but in Kėdainiai.
“Mažeikia did a very good job from the beginning, and we didn’t play on our field. The atmosphere was not usual for us. We have worked all season to secure home advantage, but we have to play two games basically away, – said A. Trinchieri. – But as I said, all such series are the same and it is necessary to start the first match with a victory.
“Zalgiris” won the second half of the match 55:20. The coach was asked if this is exactly the concentration of players that will have to be throughout the playoffs?
“In the playoffs, it’s very important to start at one level and finish at another. Higher. I asked the players during the break to start playing the playoffs already and they did.
It took the team 20 minutes to get into the game, and the series is now 1-0. But there will be another match on Tuesday and we will have to be better there than today” – explained the “Žalgiris” strategist.
Speaking about putting the Kaunas players into the basket, A. Trinchieri had something to say about Edmond Sumner, who loaded the ball effectively into the basket.
“I’m more annoyed than happy about E. Sumner. I ask him to do this for about two months. Because I see what he can do during training. Now he has finally done it, but I hope that there won’t be another such episode in a few months,” said A. Trinchieri.
When asked if Arnas Butkevičius will still help the team this season, the coach explained that he hopes to see the player on the floor: “Yes, I hope so. He is getting better every day, but I don’t want to push him, rush him and take risks. Arn is a pillar of our system and when the green light is given, we will bring him into the game in no rush.”
2024-05-13 07:00:30