By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce is at a tie with Zalgiris following two intense games this past week in Istanbul and Nikola Kalinic breaks down the factors that will help Fener get the job done and advance to the Final Four in Vitoria, on his latest blog for EuroLeague.
“For sure, losing Game 2 of the playoffs is not what we had planned. We have been playing well the whole year, and we had not lost a game in our arena until now. Surely it is unexpected, but what can you do? Zalgiris came out to play; they were tough, concentrated and motivated. They have done all the things they wanted, and we did not react well”, writes Kalinic.
“Every team in the EuroLeague Playoffs is there for a reason. That was best seen last Thursday when the eighth and seventh seeds won road games against the first and second seed. It showed they are amazing teams, they are fighting, and they have a lot of talent. If you relax a little bit, everyone is going to use that. That is our lesson from Game 2. Hopefully, we will manage to do a break in Kaunas and keep it going”.
Kalinic mentions that nothing is finished yet and Fener has to deliver two great games in Kaunas. “We know what it takes to get to the Final Four. It is all about motivation and hunger, like I say in most interviews I do. It is what we had and what we have been showing the entire season, but did not show in Game 2. That is one of the most important things at this level, how motivated can you be from one night to another night. You have to bring your A-game every night. We did not do that in Game 2, and that is why we lost. Hopefully, we can turn it around in Kaunas. This team is made for that reason. We chose a tougher road, but nothing is finished yet. We are going to fight like crazy in Kaunas, and hopefully, we are going to show we are the better team.”