By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Sitting 1-2 in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season and also in Spain’s Liga Endesa, an early-season look at the standings spots Real Madrid in unfamiliar midtable positions.
Following a loss to Baskonia In Buesa Arena on Tuesday, the fifth over eight outings across all competitions since the start of the 2024-25 campaign, head coach Chus Mateo noted improvement in the defense.
“The most important thing is that we worked well as a team. We made a step forward defensively. To improve as a team, we are looking for consistency. This is the path we must continue working on,” the Madrid native pointed out during the postgame press conference, “I believe we did well in defense. As I said, I think we made a step forward in defense.”
In a quick turnaround to the bottom end of the first double-game week of the EuroLeague season, Los Blancos welcomes Panathinaikos Aktor in WiZink Center on Thursday. The Round 4 affair is a rematch of the championship game of the 2024 Final Four.
“Do you know what the process is? Tomorrow, I am going to get up and go back to work. And on game day, I am going back to work. That is the only process I know. All I can think about is what I am going to do tomorrow. And that is all I want to think about, working my ass off,” Mateo replied to a question about his approach to the next game.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net