By Javier Molero/ jmolero@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid suffered a historic setback, being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. Scariolo’s team falls at home to La Laguna Tenerife (95-107) and ends the season without a title.
The Italian coach spoke at a press conference after the game, emphasizing how different the team is without its big men, without two key players like Edy Tavares and Usman Garuba.
“Congratulations to their team, to Txus, to Marce, to Mills,” Scariolo began the press conference by giving credit to Tenerife coach Txus Vidorreta and veteran stars Marcelinho Huertas and Patty Mills.
“I think we fought until we had the opportunity to get into the paint. The very poor three-point shooting… we couldn’t find an answer from beyond the arc. We gave up a lot of points, some very difficult ones, some after good defense, others due to their great merit, and others due to our own mistakes,” the Italian coach continued.
“The lack of balance we’ve had between inside and outside has cost us. We’ve been two completely different teams. One that, in its original structure, dominated the ACB regular season and came within seconds of being crowned European champions,” he analyzed after the tough home defeat.
“And another, from that point on, where we haven’t been able to rebuild what was needed. You can’t learn from having players get injured. There are things we have to digest and improve on the defensive end,” he commented on the difference in the final stretch of the season, adding, “It hurts especially. There have been seasons and championships where my teams have been among the best defensively, but our defensive efficiency in the last month hasn’t been adequate. We would have liked to give the fans a longer postseason”.
Scariolo took the opportunity to apologize to the fans for a season without titles, in which they reached three finals and were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
“We apologize to the fans who have supported us throughout the year, even today. They have always been there for us. We feel bad for them. This is a time to learn, congratulate our opponents, and begin preparing for next season with a cool head and clear thinking,” he commented.
“I thanked the players for their effort. It was a long and hard effort, and they did it together. I also thanked the coaching staff because their work was excellent until the team fell apart,” he said about his players.
“It’s a moment where no one has the clarity or composure to draw definitive conclusions. That moment will come with a lot of patience,” he continued, analyzing the defeat.
Regarding his assessment of his first year back at Real Madrid, Sergio Scariolo had no doubts. “A very good record up until the Final Four, dominating the regular season in the League, reaching the EuroLeague final. The only blemish was the Copa del Rey, which isn’t easy to reach. From the Final Four until now, the record has been negative,” the Italian declared.
“That’s life; you have three consecutive setbacks, and it completely changes your perspective. As a coach, I’m the first to admit that I haven’t managed to change the dynamic,” he commented.
When asked about the doubts surrounding his future after this tough elimination, Scariolo was emphatic.
“That’s not a question for me. I have three years left on my contract, and that’s a question for the club,” he concluded the press conference, with Real Madrid eliminated from the playoffs in the quarterfinals for the first time after 18 years.
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