By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
Monaco is back at the EuroLeague Final Four after taking down Barcelona in the decisive Game 5.
Mike James played a key role, leading his team with 20 points and making several huge buckets in the crucial moments of the game.
Speaking about those clutch moments, he drew a parallel to the NBA Playoffs.
“That’s what they pay me for. I wasn’t trying to think about the moment, but to read the defense and make the best decision possible. I didn’t want to settle. Me and coach talked about the NBA Playoffs and had a conversation about somebody in particular—we felt like he settled. I know I can make a lot of threes, but I didn’t want to settle. I wanted to drive, draw the defense, and see if I could get other people open for threes or get layups. It made me a little more comfortable making some easy ones early. Late in the game, I didn’t take any threes—just tried to put pressure on the defense and make them guard. If you take a step back three, you kind of bail them out a bit, unless you’re super hot. I wanted to give myself the best possible chance,” James said at the postgame press conference.
He also reflected on how past Final Four experience could help this time around, referencing the 2023 semifinals against Olympiacos, as Monaco will once again face the Piraeus team in Abu Dhabi.
“Experience always makes you better. Everything you go through prepares you for the next step. Even last year’s playoffs—this playoff series will help us. The way we fought, climbed back… Playing the same team again—Olympiacos—it seems inevitable. We’re always going to meet them, no matter what happens. It’s almost like fate. We’ve got to take care of business this time. Last time, we kind of got happy and thought it was over. They’re a good team, they play hard for 40 minutes, and we’ve got to do the same,” James concluded.