AS Monaco Basket hosts Maccabi Tel Aviv this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Gaston-Médecin in the Euroleague. The Principality club must bounce back after the slap received on Sunday at the Astroballe (88-71), already the second defeat of the start of the season.
Heavily beaten on Sunday on the ASVEL floor (88-71) in Betclic Elite, Monaco ended a series of 10 victories against its main rival in France. With two defeats in three days of the championship, the Roca Team is not having the hoped-for start to the season. A “very strong reaction” is expected by coach Sasa Obradovic this Wednesday against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Euroleague, a week after dominating Milan (93-80) for their entry into the continental scene.
“I want Monaco to continue to be the driving force of French basketball,” President Aleksej Fedoricsev announced less than a month ago.
If it has not yet derailed, the Monegasque locomotive is struggling to get started. The setbacks in the championship against Saint-Quentin and ASVEL force a rethinking, as Mam Jaiteh explains. “We all need to look at ourselves in front of the mirror to find our cruising speed. This start of the season is super important, these are matches not to be regretted at the end of the season. This Wednesday, we will have to take it and above all play with manner.”
“We saw each other so beautiful”
Sasa Obradovic, the coach of the reigning double French champions, warns: “In all aspects, we have to improve. We are far from our standards. We do not always show the same energy as against Milan and that “It was predictable. There are always guys missing in the rotation and we have a lack of training. We have a lot of room for improvement.”
If the entry into the Euroleague against Olimpia Milan (93-80) was convincing, the rout in Villeurbanne (88-71) in Betclic Elite was brutal. “We saw ourselves looking so good after the Milan match,” explains insider Mam Jaiteh. “We don’t know where we are, we don’t know what the level of this team is. After a victory we are super happy, after a defeat we think it’s the end of the world There are around 90 matches in the season, we have to succeed in creating our identity. It’s too early to be frustrated. It’s even too early to draw any conclusions. . But you have to keep in mind that time passes quickly and that all matches count, so as not to have regrets and not to be frustrated.”
Sasa Obradovic is now counting on the pride of his players. “The reaction must be very strong to protect our sovereignty at home against Maccabi, a team that is always difficult to face. We are still very irregular and we build ourselves match after match. We try to create the best possible group.” A group that could very soon be strengthened.
A hoped-for leader-back
The Serbian technician does not hide it: “We need reinforcements. We are looking on the market. It is obvious that we are missing something and that we need a combo guard (position 1-2 ).” And for good reason, Sasa Obradovic has seen his infirmary be very busy since the start of preparation. Currently there are two recruits expected to bring their experience to the back lines: Greek leader Nick Calathes (knee) and Turkish fullback Furkan Korkmaz (adductor).
Limited to 18 minutes over the first four games of the season, star Mike James is gradually returning after back surgery during the summer and delayed physical preparation. Spared in the championship, he will be available again this Wednesday but not yet 100%. Once mentioned, Paris Lee (ASVEL) ultimately did not make a comeback. Now at Maccabi, Jordan Loyd is in turn the subject of rumors for a comeback in the Principality. “He is always welcome,” quipped Sasa Obradovic when discussing the arrival of the MVP of the Betclic Elite 2023 finals for this Wednesday’s match.
