Monaco is still stuck. And not at the best of times. A week before hosting the ogre Real Madrid, the Roca Team conceded a third away defeat in the Euroleague this January on Thursday evening. After the defeats in Belgrade against Maccabi Tel-Aviv (93-83) and in Piraeus against Olympiakos (75-73), the French champions were slapped by Panathinaikos (88-63), during the 21st day of Euroleague.
But even more than the result, it is the way in which Monaco was beaten which is memorable. The Roca Team recorded the second lowest total of points of its season in the Euroleague (it had only scored 59 against Bologna, at the very start of the season) as well as the biggest deficit of its season (-23 points), worse than during the correction received in Madrid (-18 points).
This defeat had its origins in the first moments of the match, the Greeks flying away in the space of five minutes during the first quarter (18-5), the time to score three winning shots in quick succession . Also very active in defense, the locals caused a lot of problems for the Roca Team by being very aggressive on the passing lines in particular. Opposite, the Monegasques were particularly ineffective and clumsy in attack, poorly managed their possessions and lost many balls, contrary to their habits.
James in pain, Lessort as boss
As a symbol of this suffering, Mike James, the Monegasques’ usual top scorer, had not yet scored a single basket at the break and had already lost four balls. If he ended up passing the 10-point mark in the second half, little consolation, the American undoubtedly signed one of his worst performances of the season, completely muzzled by his counterparts and personifying the helplessness of the Roca Team in the offensive phase.
The Monegasques, quite skilful at 3 points (44.4% success behind the arc), indeed experienced major blunders at 2 points (37.5%) and on free throws (only 30% in total). Attacking better in the last quarter, with a 6-0, they believed they could come back to the score for an instant (64-52, 31st). But that was without counting on the best player of the match, Mathias Lessort. The Frenchman, who came out to the ovations of the public, delivered a major performance (42 rating!) against his former club, finishing the match with 23 points, the best total of the evening, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, his record in career.
With this new setback, Monaco’s record balances out a little (11 wins, 10 losses) in the Euroleague. Bad news as the Monegasques’ schedule will be complicated over the coming weeks, including the reception of Real Madrid (January 19) and difficult matches against Partizan Belgrade (January 31) and Fenerbahçe (February 2). ).
2024-01-11 22:14:42
#Monaco #slapped #Panathinaikos #Euroleague
