Jasikevicius made it clear that he is concerned about Real Madrid as a whole, that he does not pay special attention to Tavares and that the loss of the whites will not necessarily affect the game in favor of the blaugranas. With all available except for Higgins, tomorrow they will do the last training and travel to Kaunas. These were his impressions before the game.
Importance of having everyone plugged in: “The team is in a good moment but if you reach the Final Four, it is. We were happy the last few years, although it was a little different, but we got there well. More or less fine. The important thing is the 40 minutes in which you have to give everything”
20 years after his first Euroleague as a player: “It is quite similar, do not think that much has changed. I still have the same illusion. I remember very well the details of Sant Jordi. The before, during and after. Watching my players, some of whom are going to their first Final Four, it’s time to prepare and focus a bit”
Pressure: “It is very difficult to say anything. We tried to talk, but we will try more in Kaunas. A person has to go through all this, we have experienced players. As staff we have also gone through many. This helps. It is a mixture of many details. We are looking forward to it and I hope things turn out well for us”
Casualties of Poirier, Deck and Yabusele: “Change the game, because you prepare things against them. This does not mean that Madrid will be worse as a team. They are a super long, experienced staff. Who knows how to do things when there are casualties. They will not be worse, but different.
Mindset: “I don’t know who considers us favorites or not. It does not matter. I think we have options, I’m sure the other three think the same. We are two games away. I don’t know to what extent we were favorites in the past. I don’t think it matters.”
ACB and Euroleague quintets without Barça players: “We have not discussed this with either the players or the staff. For a squad over 30 years old, I don’t think it’s that important. For the players it’s a good thing, but sometimes they pick you and sometimes they don’t. Everyone knows the season that some of our players have had. There are a lot of people who vote.”
Tavares: “When you talk about a player you always think as a whole. I don’t think about how to stop Tavares, but about how to stop Madrid. They do many things well. Especially in attack they are in the top-3 of the Euroleague. That worries me more. You try to stop everything, but against good teams you have to take risks on some occasions. We cannot think only of Tavares”.
Three wins in a row against Partizan: “You have to have more of a winning character than Real Madrid. They are going to play differently, but I don’t think it’s worse”.
Lithuania: “Since this pavilion was built, it was a matter of time to play the Final Four there. They are prepared for this type of party. People are going to have a good time, the Final Four is in the right place because of the love there is for basketball in Kaunas”.
More substitute minutes: “Right now we can’t think about the second game. There is only Real Madrid. You have to do everything possible to be in the final and then we’ll see. That the people are well is very important to give rest and for the tactical variations that Madrid can demand of you”.
Hubby: “The message is clear. Let’s give it our all. We are going to miss our animation groups a lot. We will have people with us in Kaunas. On the court you play five against five”.
Satoransky adaptation: “We cannot focus on a position or a single player. We do not depend on just one. I hope he plays at a high level, it always helps, but we will have to think about who is good, in different game plan options and what works for us at all times. If your starting point guard plays well, the team usually works well.”
