Bologna –
At the end of the game against Bayern Munich, valid for the 18th round of Turkish Airlines Euroleague, these were the words of coach Luca Banchi: “I want to congratulate both teams, who faced the beginning of this second phase with a very solid performance. Bayern came here with great concentration to impose their basketball with great physicality, and for all the first 20 minutes we struggled, they collected good attacks and a big advantage on rebounds as well. The positive aspect for us is that we adapted after halftime, increased the level of our defensive consistency, better pressure on the ball. We forced some mistakes and controlled rebounds much better, but also offensively we changed the quality of our basketball, going to the free throw line with more continuity, trying to touch the basket, getting into their defense, playing with a flow that is more familiar to our style. I have to congratulate our opponents but also our team, for the strength, the confidence they showed during the 40 minutes despite the score without stopping believing, and and for being patient. Tonight was about being patient and continuing to believe that sooner or later we would catch up with them.”
During the first 20 minutes Bayern attacked the iron as if they were scooting, they were systematically beating us in 1vs1, they were opening the court with longs who every time we took an extra step of help scored from 3, with 70% from two and 50% from three, they were also dominating in rebounding. This is Bayern, this is the level of our opponents, and every night it is like this. If you can’t get over the top it becomes complicated. That’s what we did in the second half of the game, it’s nothing different than continuing to believe in the possibility that we could close that gap. We did it on trajectories out and on penetrations, Ante himself was helpful in the crucial moment of our comeback by providing presence inside the area, protection and fouling the trajectories of their shots. You work on the small details and the difference is really made by a fouled shot, a rebound, an extended reception away from the 3-point arc. We talk about absolute excellence, about players like Edwards, world champion Obst, Ibaka. The first 20 minutes for them bordered on perfection, we didn’t have that competitive nastiness that would be needed in a game approach like this. Even these changes, as we experienced the last 48 hours, trying to put in two new players lowered our level of tension because it diverted our attention elsewhere. It was important to remain disciplined on a night in which we were far from inspired. In the second half we went to the lunette 20 minutes, symptomatic of the fact that the team continued to grind out play, these are important signs that we must have the constancy to repeat and that we should cling to in order to make it a team identity that will help us make a good run in this second phase, where opponents are beginning to perceive us differently. You saw with what level of concentration Bayern came here to challenge the second-ranked team, precise, aggressive, they put all their organization and talent on the field. To have responded the way we did is a good sign.”
