By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
As expected, the clash of fourth and fifth seeds was spectacular so far, and Game 5 (Wednesday, 8 p.m. CET) between Monaco and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv promises an epic finale to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague quarterfinal series.
Jordan Loyd was one of Monaco’s players that stood out so far, especially in Game 2 when he had a career night with 33 points.
“It’s a series with a lot of commitment and constant intensity, where neither team wants to give up. The proof is, we reacted after losing game 1 in a very good way. And Maccabi did the same after losing game 3 at home. Each match has its story, and the outcome is difficult to predict. It will be decided on details and we are lucky to benefit from home advantage. We worked hard all year for this,” Loyd said in an interview for Monaco’s website.
What will be decisive in a do-or-die game for both teams?
“It’s up to whoever wants it the most. We must not let them enter this part as they wish. We will have to put a constant intensity on their ball carriers, always at the limit, as we were able to do in games 2 and 3. This will be the main key. Defending very hard and controlling the rebound. It’s up to us to get it, to show that we’re playing in front of our home crowd and that coming to fight on our pitch will be very complicated for Maccabi. We have to make them understand that from the first minute. Defensively, each basket will have to be difficult, and offensively we know what we are capable of doing as soon as the ball circulates well“.
The key for Monaco will be to find a way to stop the dynamic backcourt duo of Maccabi, Lorenzo Brown, and Wade Baldwin.
“We know that the influence of Wade Baldwin and Lorenzo Brown is enormous in this team. When the two shine, it’s all the guys who are in tune and who follow, as we have already seen in this series. They are very good defenders. It is up to us to limit them, to ensure that they cannot breathe. But there are some great people behind them with guys like Hilliard and Dibartolomeo who can be skillful, Colson. And their strengths under the rims with Nebo and Poythress for example who know how to be dominant on the rebound. If we want this Final Four, we will first have to give a collective response in all areas of the game“.
Donatas Motiejunas can be an X factor for Sasa Obradovic‘s team as one of the most experienced players on the team.
“The coach, experienced players like me, will have to find the words to re-motivate everyone. Letting Maccabi play at the pace they want is not possible. Game 5 will be do-or-die. We will have to give everything,” Motiejunas added.