By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The best-of-five series between Partizan Mozzart Bet and Real Madrid went the distance with the away sides prevailing in the first four contests. In Game 5, the Whites completed the comeback from a 2-0 deficit becoming the first team with three consecutive successful bids in must-win situations.
Dante Exum recapping the series referred to the bench-clearing brawl forcing the early conclusion to Game 2 and fallout as directly connected to the turnaround.
“The series changed when I got bodyslammed, 100%. It put two of our guys out. I am playing injured for the rest of the series,” he noted suspensions on Kevin Punter and Mathias Lessort besides his own status talking with reporters after deciding Game 5, relays Mozzart Sport.
Exum, 27, picked up the injury during the brawl when Guerschon Yabusele violently forced him to the floor in wrestling style. The French forward, a former player of the Boston Celtics, was issued a five-game suspension by Euroleague Basketball.
“I think anyone that plays basketball saw the film noticed that the punishment wasn’t tough enough. I think everyone was shocked it was only five games,” commented Exum after Wednesday’s game, “I think we are not playing WWE. What can I say?”
“I think I would have even felt a little bit better about the situation, even if he did try to apologize or try to do anything, but he did it through the media. I guess EuroLeague sucked it up and gave them light suspensions,” he added, “What can you say?”
“It just shows how they are”
Besides respective head coaches downplaying the Game 2 incidents and instead focusing on the rest of the series, most involved players apologized for their involvement, including Yabusele via a post on social media.
“It’s funny how they controlled the narrative, how the story came out in the media with the apologies. I didn’t get one apology straight from Yabusele. So, it just shows how they are,” pointed out the Australian swingman, “It shows how it was on the court.”
Partizan’s leading scorer Punter missed both Games 3 and 4 serving a two-game suspension. Back for Game 5, he scored 28 points but was not enough for the team coached by legendary tactician Zeljko Obradovic to hold on and get the job done in WiZink Center.
“I think you got KP coming out, trying to protect me with someone hitting me from behind. He gets one game and he’s defending me and then comes out and the guy puts his fists up to him. Of course, he is going to back up and defend himself. It’s a joke and I think they knew what they were doing,” Exum shared his opinion on the motivation leading to the brawl, “I’m not going to say ‘we had the game, we should have won it,’ that is just it. But I know the momentum of the series just changed definitely at that point.”
“We knew they were going to come out dirty”
Averaging 12.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per contest over the series, Exum alongside teammates ultimately missed three opportunities to close out the series. In contrast, Madrid’s experienced players, well-seasoned in do-or-die situations, were crucial for Chus Mateo’s side to progress to the Final Four. The Melbourne-born player viewed faced obstacles as ‘dirty’.
“We knew they can say all they want about us being dirty. But we knew they were going to come out dirty,” described the veteran of 262 NBA games between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz focusing on deciding Game 5, “That is just the way it goes.”
“I think we are getting a little frustrated about some of the fouls that are being called and some of the stuff that they are doing,” he added, “Obviously, they have been in this situation a lot. They know how to dirty up the game and not be seen. So, it’s whatever.”
Following the EuroLeague exit, Partizan will focus on the AdmiralBet ABA League Playoffs for the rest of the 2022-23 season.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net