Bologna, June 14 –
These are the words of coach Sergio Scariolo in the postgame: “We definitely did not play as well as we did in the first two games but we defended with continuity and we were able to correct the negative trend of rebounds in the first quarter by balancing them, which is a key aspect for us. I think there is little more to say, we hope to play better next one, the offensive choices but we have to especially build on the basis of continuous defensive efficiency and maximum effort in controlling rebounds especially under our basket.
If you saw our team play, the prediction of sinking was based on nothing. We have never sunk during the year. We can obviously lose some games but I have never seen this team sink. You can lose a game even badly, but it is always very responsive in competing the next game. Honestly I didn’t expect panic in this game: definitely I expected a very tough game against a team like EA7 however not a bad reaction from my team, after two very good games, I don’t understand why to worry. If you can correct mistakes you correct them and look at the next one. Teodosic? He was much more effective today after two so-so games, because the difference between the first two and the third was very important. When we are talking about Teodosic we are talking about a player who is used to playing under pressure with great defenses trying to lit him up, with great responsibility in his teams all the time, we are also talking about a player you have to dose and calm down at times, because he is passionate and with a great heart, great desire to do always. I expected a good game from Teodosic and I expect more because as we all know his role in the team is very important.
Meanwhile, I thank our fans because they were supportive as we expected, predicted and have always been there in fact. That is why one prefers to play at home than away, although sometimes playing on the home court factor becomes a pressure factor, especially the further you go in the series. So for the moment we cash in on the support of our fans with great pleasure, great gratitude and expect them the day after tomorrow the same, even better if possible, as the team.
Long season? I have a hard time weighing the influence that factors such as long season or emotionality can have. Perhaps the first two games were surprising, as brilliant as they may have been, played at a very high tempo and beautiful to watch, for a final. Clearly from our point of view we need high pace because we have less shooting than they do, we need to capitalize on possessions because we struggle to impact them with rebounding, so we need actions, pass assists because we have fewer players capable of playing the last seconds of the possession with a three-pointer as happened in the first game. Every team has its structure and every player its characteristics: there is the more emotional one, the more rehearsed one. These are all evaluations, but they are more subjective for each individual player rather than collective of a team as a whole.”
