The Barça coach, Sarunas Jasikevicius, stressed that the performance of Nikola Mirotic, author of 27 points, was “determining” in this Friday’s victory against Monbus Obradoiro (94-77).
“At one point, I got up and saw on the scoreboard that Mirotic already had 25 points. I had not noticed! When a player has so many points in his hands, it’s very easy for him. He has played a very good game and has already been determinante”, declared the coach in the press room at the Palau Blaugrana.
Jasikevicius described this Friday’s victory as “important”to finish as high as possible in the ACB”, although he recognized that his players they jumped “somewhat cold” to the track in front of a Monbus Obradoiro that had “much more desire” and was “faster in situations deliveries, in defense and in attack”.
“We had to react. our bench it didn’t go very well at first. Then in the third quarter we have seen a very good Barça, moving the ball, with more patience and we have taken advantageto,” he added.
However, ‘Saras’ admitted that his team dropped their guard in the last quarter: “Afterwards we have relaxed and they have returned very quickly to the game. We have been a bit irregular. Some players who haven’t played for days have also lacked some rhythm, but we must give credit to the rival. Moncho and the Obradorio always prepare the matches very goodno”.
Asked if he expected the comeback of the real Madrid in the Euroleague series against Partizan Mozzart Bet BelgradeJasikevicius was concise: “After the fight yesNot before the fight. If they had all played, no”.
Lastly, the Barca coach assured knowing “nothing” about the state of Jan Vesely, that he withdrew from the game in the first quarter due to acute lower back pain, and limited himself to saying that “they are doing tests.”