Abrines: “The difference between Zalgiris and us is not 20 points”
BARCELONA, 27 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça’s coach, Sarunas Jasikevicius, assured that Zalgiris will be “more comfortable” at the Palau Blaugrana this Friday, in the second game of the Euroleague Playoffs after the 91-69 loss in the first game this Wednesday, and for This wants their players to go out for 2-0 and not see them coming.
“Zalgiris is proud of how far he has come playing that physical basketball. We had to propose our basketball on the court first, without waiting for what they would do. This is a second game, they will be more comfortable and it is a new battle”, he valued in Press conference.
In this sense, it is clear what they should do. “The players are aware of what they have to do, but you have to put it on the track and it’s not easy. We all want to win the second game and go there 2-0, you have to go step by step and do a lot of mental work, which is clearly the most important part,” he said.
“The only thing we can train is the mental part. We have seen what we have done well and badly, we are a bit in the part of thinking about what they can try to do more. If you win by 25 or by 1, it is 1-0 and nothing more. We are happy for starting the series well, we have to put the 2-0”, signalled.
The good thing is that, despite some gesture of pain in the ankle by Nikola Mirotic and the fact that Álex Abrines is also playing undercover in his ankle, everyone will be available. Maybe even Cory Higgins, absent in the first beat. “At the moment they are all available and I think they will be for the game,” he commented.
For his part, forward Álex Abrines assured that the difference between Zalgiris and Barça “is not 20 points”. “They will come out more aggressive and with more intensity and we have to at least match that identity,” he said.
“Months ago we were also in that situation of being at the top and having them come back and in the end lose or win by the minimum. Yesterday there were a couple of moments that they made partial but we are strong to stop those attempts to come back,” he commented on the strength team current.
On a personal level, he acknowledged that the ankle is “with discomfort.” “I hope to treat him well to arrive tomorrow as fresh as possible. In general terms I’m fine, with confidence and playing well both in attack and defense. This year I’m experiencing a good moment and I hope it continues like this until the end of the season,” he said. sincere.