By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Strasbourg guard Dee Bost refused to hold back anything when he decided to make an honest self-criticism about his performance during the loss of his team to AEK in the first leg of the Basketball Champions League quarterfinals.
“I played like sh–t,” Bost told Eurohoops. “Too many missed shots. Too many turnovers.”
The American guard certainly didn’t shy away from assuming his own share of responsibilities that led to defeat for the French side. He contributed 6 assists, 6 rebounds and stole the ball thrice, but also finished with 3/13 shots from the field while committing 4 turnovers in the 25:36 minutes he stayed on the floor.
“I need to play better. I need to make adjustments and prepare for next week. I need to step up. Other players also. The whole team needs to step up,” Bost said to Eurohoops.
Bost and his teammates chewed their way back from a 13-point deficit to gain a lead of 5 near the end of the third period. However, this advantage was shortlived since AEK struck back swiftly with a 0 – 10 run to once again sit in the driver’s seat and stay there for the remainder of the game.
“We had turnovers and execution problems,” Bost said. “They also hit some tough shots. They gave us a tough time. It’s part of the game. They played a hell of a game. We played a horrible game. Next week we’ll look to do things differently.”
AEK has displayed some pretty strong mettle on the road so far in the current campaign, by winning five out of the eight games it has given out from Athens. They showed some of their sharpest steel in the previous round when they beat Nymburk 82 – 93 to advance to the semifinals.
Bost knows that his opponents are mean business away from home, but isn’t intimidated at all ahead of the rematch in France.
“We are not Nymburk. We are a totally different team. We overcame an aggregate deficit of 15 with five minutes to go against Neptunas.” Bost said.
“This is basketball. Nine points is… three, four possessions. I feel that next week we’ll go out there and play,” he added. Strasbourg doesn’t only need a win over AEK but to beat them with a margin of double figures in order to qualify in the Final Four.
This first-leg match between AEK and Strasbourg also held a historic significance for the Basketball Champions League since the presence of nearly 12.000 fans in OAKA arena set a new attendance record in the competition.
The atmosphere was extremely loud at moments with AEK fans screaming their hearts and souls out in support of their favorite team. Even though Dee Bost admitted that Strasbourg suffered some of the consequences of competing in front such an “unwelcoming” crowd, he also praised AEK fans for providing their team with a major boost towards victory.
“The crowd… that’s what pushed them the most. It gave them the momentum. The energy. Playing in front of a crowd like this it gives you a push. Next week, we’re in front of our crowd. And we’ll be better.”
Photo: BasketballCL.com