By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
BERLIN — Fenerbahce Beko center Johnathan Motley will be looking to give Panathinaikos Athens big center Mathias Lessort a taste of his own medicine in the upcoming EuroLeague semifinal between the two sides.
“I can’t let him attack me all day without me doing the same,” Motley told Eurohoops. “It’s about returning the favor.”
Thanks to his aggressiveness, highly physical type of play, and being relentless when attacking the basket, Lessort has an outstanding knack for winning fouls. Among other notable numbers, like his 13.7 points and 6.2 rebounds, the French big man is getting fouled a league-high 6.6 times per game and shooting 6.3 free throws, more than any other EuroLeague player.
Motley trusts in his own ability to make it tough for opponents to guard him as a counter to Lessort’s prowess.
“I think I get the most fouls on my team,” Motley said. He’s indeed leading Fener with 4.3 fouls won per game in 19:16 minutes. This is quite the difference to Lessort’s 29:32. “He has to play defense as well as I have to play defense. I think I can wear him out.”
Besides, their own matchup, Motley believes that the many big bodies that Fener can throw at Lessort can make it tricker for the back-to-back All-EuroLeague center.
“We’re both good at what we do,” Motley said. “I’ll just got to go out and play my game. The difference about our team is that he [Lessort] has three bigs he has to guard. He doesn’t have to just worry about me. He’s got to worry about Sanli and about Papagiannis.”
Both Sertac Sanli and George Papagiannis provide a different riddle to solve since they can threaten from the perimeter as well.
“It’s a lot different from our side and his side,” Motley added. “Our team is well coached and we are deep. We have a deep roster. A lot of guys who can do a different things. In the EuroLeague, that helps you.