2024-04-15 05:18:23
“Rytas” lost 78:92 away to Kaunas “Žalgiris” (22/2).
The army of G. Žibėnas, who started a serious fight in the first half of the match, released the reins only at the end of the second half and entered the break with a deficit of 8 points.
In the second half of the match, “Žalgiris” intensified its defense even more, and the magical play of Lukas Lekavicius finally killed “Ryto”‘s hopes of winning.
“Deserved victory, congratulations to “Žalgiris”. We let them get a taste of the game. They opened with easy points in the penalty area, going into the game well. On the contrary, we did not find our game. “Zalgiris” took the derby seriously.
We always have to play well if we want to win. We need to close the match faster. You can’t hit a magic button in a match and that won’t win the match. We have to feel comfortable so that 9 others feel discomfort”, said G. Žibėnas after the defeat.
– I got the impression that the intensity has increased after the long break. Did you have a tough talk in the locker room?
– There were easy points in the first half of the match, L. Lekavičius appeared in the second. We loosened their strong hands and whoever wanted to be them, they were. Toughness was not enough today. We looked for changes at the break, but two quick 3-pointers followed as we approached the 2-point mark and we never came back from there.
– Edmond Sumner hit three 3-pointers. How unexpected is that? Was it a risk?
– There was no risk. Other players stretched us, we went to assists too much, we didn’t shut down our opponents. We had to close.
– “Zalgiris” made their first mistake in the 20th minute and had only 4 mistakes in total. Is it an aggression problem?
– I will correct it – only three mistakes. One was an offensive foul, which is treated as a foul. Here it was more our defense problems, lack of pressure. We must be comfortable where there is no comfort. That was missing today.
– Margiris Normantas played 20 minutes. Is he physically ready after the injury?
– You should ask him. The injury does play a part, but in a match like this, it’s no excuse. He was ready.
– Keenan Evans’ problem seemed to be serious, but it wasn’t. L. Lekavičius became a real headache. What were Luke’s trump cards?
– His speed. We had prepared a different defense for him, but it didn’t work. The shorter player of my team was late after the barrier, the tall player did not jump as much as needed against L. Lekavičius. When things go his way, Lukas becomes unstoppable.
– It seems that in the second half you were stuck in defense. Doesn’t it seem like there was a lack of mutual understanding?
– When “Žalgiris” started changing defenders, there was a problem. There was a lack of patience, we were bringing the wrong target up, we were not attacking Kevarrius Hayes. We have to work on it.
– This match lasted a long time. What’s your take on the fact that there are so many stops?
– Who am I to judge here (smiles). This is FIBA rules, referees are doing their job. Maybe it was better before, especially for the viewer.
Trainers now have pluses, we can invite players, draw combinations. But it does not add beauty to overall basketball. In the past, the players were also interviewed after the match, now there is no time for that.
– There is one month left until the LKL playoffs. You are firmly in second place. What needs to be done to get the team going?
– Training a lot more and taking the remaining five games seriously. No one escapes waves.
We would like to take everything more seriously. How you look at the match is how you will play it. There are no magic buttons here, there is training and work.
– Do you think that L. Lekavičius is the favorite to occupy the position of the second offensive player of the national team?
– We are meeting with the national team coaches next week. In my opinion, he deserves it, maybe a bit more difficult season in the Euroleague, but the potential is great.
This year, it may be a problem for the coaching staff to decide who to invite and who not to invite.
2024-04-15 05:18:23