By Michael Gkioulenoglou/ info@eurohoops.net
Coming out of a key win for Anadolu Efes, Derek Willis talked to Eurohoops about his side tying a best-of-five series opposite Panathinaikos Aktor at 1-1.
Rewind to Game 1, the 29-year-old forward shared his opinion on how the team based in Istanbul could have returned home with a 2-0 lead in a playoff series for a ticket to the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four.
“Maybe the pressure got to us a little bit because I think we got ourselves taken out of rhythm in Game 1. And then Game 2 tonight. It’s playoffs, so you know they’re gonna make a run, and then you just gotta and you just got to try and come out,” said Willis, “I think we had Game 1. We just kinda gave it away in my opinion, but it is what it is.”
“They made incredible plays. And we didn’t put enough pressure on the boards, so I think that was the focus,” he described a different approach between the first and second contests against the defending EuroLeague champions.
Juancho Hernangomez emerged as the Game 1 MVP with a brilliant showing on Tuesday, including 16 rebounds.
“I think when you have a guy that’s rebounding well like that, you have to attack him on the board, put some pressure on him. I feel like we’ve been doing a pretty good job on Kendrick Nunn. And the players that we’re really focused on,” Willis explained to Eurohoops, “If we keep our plan, make our little adjustments from these two games, and then you see from there.”
At 1-1, the series moves to Istanbul’s Basketball Development Center for Game 3 on Wednesday and Game 4 on Friday.
“We feel good going back home. Of course, stealing the game here was great,” said the former Kentucky standout, “We hope our fans come show out for us, help give us some energy, and then just play a simple game at home, try not to get too caught up if things don’t go our way or if things are going our way. And hopefully come out on top.”
Additional features to this series extended to exchanges between head coaches Ergin Ataman and Luca Banchi for the visitors practicing in the Peace and Friendship Stadium, home of Olympiacos, instead of OAKA Altion.
“The funny thing was, when I got on the bus, I fell asleep just, just for a second. When I woke up, I was at the Olympiacos stadium. I was pretty confused,” Willis shared his perspective, “I don’t know, we wanted to prepare there and that’s what we felt comfortable with as a team, and that’s it, but honestly, I really didn’t have a clue until we got to the arena.”
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net