By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona coach Sarunas Jasikevicius had several complaints about how his team played in the away loss to Zalgiris Kaunas, especially when it came to the attitude in the first half.
“We lost because we underestimated our opponent, Saras said in the post-game presser. “We entered the court like peacocks.” Zalgiris was down 44 – 35 at halftime before catching up in the third period.
“I thought they [Zalgiris] were fighting more,” Jasikevicius mentioned in his opening statement. “I thought they were a more motivated team before the game. It’s obvious that we didn’t do the job as a coaching staff to make them believe that Zalgiris is different this year. That it’s a much more solid team, especially on the level of physicality and the fighting on the boards. The coach must always take responsibility in this department.
Barcelona had the last possession and a chance to win the game. Nicolas Laprovittola drove to the basket but sent the ball out to Rokas Jokubaitis who immediately passed it Tomas Satoransky at the corner when he saw Arnas Butkevicius coming toward him. Zalgiris forward Edgaras Ulanovas managed to get in front of Satoransky and the Czech guard didn’t even attempt a shot on time.
“My job is to create offenses. It felt like three or four people could’ve taken a shot. The last offenses were great but I have to take responsibility,” Saras said.
“In crunch time, everything can go either way,” Jasikevicius had previously commented in the post-game flash interview. “Why do we need to wait for the crunch time? And we didn’t play like this intensity at the beginning? Probably I have to take responsibility as a coach who doesn’t prepare his team for what is coming here.”