2023-05-29 22:51:26
Monaco took control of their semi-final against Bourg-en-Bresse by winning the first match of their series (86-79) on Monday in the Principality.
Freddy Fauthoux’s men only competed for the time of the first quarter (19-16) with the Monegasque armada, officially the continent’s third power after their podium victory in the Euroleague eight days earlier. Before the start of these semi-finals, the JL was one of the few teams in Europe to be able to boast of a positive record against Monaco: the Burgiens had brought down ASM in the quarter-finals of the Leaders Cup (102 -92) and again in the second leg of Elite (90-88) – after the reverse of the first leg (98-94).
Bourg will perhaps be able to boast about it again in the next round of this best-of-five semi-final, Wednesday (8:30 p.m.) again in the Gaston-Médecin room. Meanwhile, the Mets 92 of Victor Wembanyama can chain a second success against Asvel on Tuesday (8:30 p.m.) at Paris-Bercy in the other half.
To equalize, Bourg-en-Bresse will not have to crack like Monday, when the Roca Team inflicted a 17-4 on the JL in the second round, to break away from 19-18 to 36-22. This fatal air pocket angered Freddy Fauthoux: “What are you waiting for? The end of the match and we go back to the hotel? ”, stormed the ex-international, reassembled against his players.
The passivity of the Bressans
In addition to numerous loss of balls (20 in total), the passivity of the Bressans offered a shovelful of open three-point shots in this moment of change, two from Alpha Diallo, Matthew Strazel and Donatas Motiejunas. The latter showed himself as the strong man of the Rock on Monday. The Lithuanian giant (2.13 m) had stacked 16 points and five rebounds at halftime (20 points after forty minutes).
From a lay-up then a shot behind the line created solo, their star Mike James, less in demand (20 minutes) and therefore more discreet (12 points and 3 assists), took the liberty of knocking out Bourg- en-Bresse by five points (53-32) as soon as they returned from the locker room, sometimes the break would have allowed them to regroup. All under the eyes – again – of Kevin Durant, friend of Mike James and well clinging to the Rock because already present during the quarter-final first leg against Strasbourg.
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