By Semih Tuna / info@eurohoops.net
It was an intense battle, but Fenerbahce found a way to defeat Paris in the final moments and take a 1–0 lead in the EuroLeague Playoff series.
Wade Baldwin was one of the standouts for Šarūnas Jasikevičius’ team, hitting the crucial shot in the dying moments that sealed the game. After the match, he spoke about the key aspects of Fenerbahce’s victory.
“Just focus. A team like Paris requires you to stay locked in for all 40 minutes. They’re an extremely fast-paced team, so with those two guards, you have to keep your eyes on the ball and be in the right positions at all times. I think we did a good job of that—for the full 40 minutes,” Baldwin said.
He gave credit to Paris, their style, and their persistence.
“They have a system that’s been working for them for years now—especially with the guard play they have. The two of them are very dynamic and quick. Like I said, you have to consistently stay focused every single second of the game. There’s no room for mental lapses. So, we’ll see what happens for the rest of the series.”
T.J. Shorts, the leader of Tiago Splitter’s team, recently claimed he is the best guard in the EuroLeague. Baldwin didn’t see that as a personal challenge.
“No, no. I think over the course of the season, he’s shown that he’s one of the best guards in this league. So for him to say that—it’s correct. You know, I’ve had times in my career where I felt the same way. Two or three years where I really believed that. I still feel that way about myself—it’s just a different role, a different vision now.”
Baldwin arguably played one of his best games in a Fenerbahce jersey to start the Playoffs.
“I’m just going through the course of this—new role, new team, everything. It’s a good ecosystem here. Guys step up and play well at different times. Tonight, it was me. Tomorrow, it could be someone else. That’s what’s beautiful about this team, and it’s why we’ve had so much success all year.”
Fenerbahce’s point guard hopes the rest of the series against Paris won’t be as close as Game 1.
“I hope we do our job and get them out of there. But this is EuroLeague basketball, and Paris is an extremely disciplined and talented team. If we can stay focused for the full 40 minutes every game, hopefully the outcome will be like it was tonight,” Baldwin concluded.