#BasketballPlayoffs #Monaco #Elan #time #game
The same starting five as Thursday, but with one important change: the presence of Prince Albert in the stands! If Elan seem to start better, with laudable defensive intentions (2-3, 2me), the illusion is truncated by two triples in a row from Ouattara born from two lost balls from the Bearnaise (8-3, 3me). Eric Bartecheky quickly launches Bibbins who signs his entrance with two fruitful penetrations that prevent his team from taking an early broth (12-7, 5me). Given the liveliness of…
The same starting five as Thursday, but with one important change: the presence of Prince Albert in the stands! If Elan seem to start better, with laudable defensive intentions (2-3, 2me), the illusion is truncated by two triples in a row from Ouattara born from two lost balls from the Bearnaise (8-3, 3me). Eric Bartecheky quickly launches Bibbins who signs his entrance with two fruitful penetrations that prevent his team from taking an early broth (12-7, 5me). Faced with the liveliness of Monaco’s defence, Elan will have to redouble their extra passes to find decent shooting positions. Two distant hits by Jefferson and Hrovat respond to Diallo’s good pace and leave Pau (4 of 6 to 3 points in this quarter) in ambush (18-13, 8me). Hrovat chained 5 new points to keep the distance to a single possession despite an already worrying dominance of the Monegasques on the rebound (10 to 5).
THE DATASHEET
MONACO 79
29 of 68 shots including 6 of 19 at 3 pts. 15 of 19 shots 44 rebounds (20 offensive). 15 assists. 14 stray bullets. Collective rating: 88 (six players between 11 and 18 years old)
They have played: Diallo 13, Motiejunas 4, Ouattara 10, Fall Faye 6, James 13; then Bacon 20, Westermann 2, Thomas 5, Pavilion 6
Coach: Sasa Obradović
ELAN BERNAIS 72
24 of 55 takes including 11 of 28 in 3 pts. 13 of 15 shots 26 rebounds (8 offensive). 15 passes 15 lost shots. Rating: 76 (Bibbins 24, Hrovat 18).
They have played: Jefferson 5, Oniangue 12, Hrovat 19, Chikoko 2, Sané 6; then Bibbins 19, Leloup 5, Ayayi 2, Ndiaye 2
Coach: Eric Bartecheky
in Monaco (Louis II, Gaston-Medicine). The rooms: 22-20; 24-15; 17-12; 16-25. Spectators: approx. 2500.
►2nd QT: Monaco – Pau 46-35 (24-15)
A sterile first minute, then the big show: a wild alley hoop from Donta Hall to whet your appetite, before, in the next attack, witnessing one of the dunks of the season, an amazing trick falling from Bacino’s left arm, left in the air from the outside of the racket to crush everything on the iron disk (26-20, 12me). Bacon extra cheese! Mandatory and beneficial Pau time-out. Hrovat scored his third triple that he cooled down the team (28-25, 13me). However, the Monegasque size and muscles begin to weigh. At 15me, Roca Team swallowed more offensive rebounds (7) than Elan in total rebounds (6)! Logically, the score identifies this domination (33-25, 16me). Offensively, the rojiblancos have already found nine markers when Elan’s men remain at four (36-27, 17me). An offensive rebound swallowed by Bibbins under the passive truffles of the great locals irritates Obradovic who orders time out on the spot. Diallo restores the order following (39-29, 18me). James and Bacon take care of the last layer that allows ASM to reach the break with their biggest difference (+11).
►3rd QT: Monaco – Pau 63-47
Bibbins and Jefferson are commanded by an Elan who wishes he could trust Chikoko. Tormented, the center scored his first points in the 22me (51-40, 22me). It would take others to compete with an opponent who didn’t return to the court to manage his comfortable savings. On the contrary, under the leadership of a demonic Mike James, Monaco took off a little more (55-40, 24me). Elan, frankly, does not have much to be ashamed of, on the contrary, he is simply stronger, bigger, more talented (59-43, 26me). And what defense! Close all access to the circle. And in the rare openings, the Elan misses the target. The end of the quarter becomes an ordeal for the visitors (61-43, 28me) who lost Ndiaye, injured in the knee, and who scored only one basket (Hrovat) in five effective minutes. Mr. Albert has obviously seen enough, he left his princely chair long ago.
►4th QT: Monaco – Pau 79-72 (16-25)
Ndiaye injured, Chikoko not in the best of cases, Elan resumes with Sané installed in position 5, assisted by Leloup in position 4. A somewhat light racket to contain the local beast (65-47, 32me). Oniangue, noted for his fast game, finally finds the mojo at 6.75m. His three successes in a row allowed the Béarnaise avoid the drowning that seemed inevitable shortly before (69-59, 34me). Better, Ayayi replaces his people under ten with a firm step (69-61, 35me). Suddenly, Monaco is less smart. After the timeout, it’s a true playoff finish, tough and unforgiving. Bibbins brings Elan within 6 twice (71-65, 37me ; 73-67, 38me) before Bacon, cold as a scalpel, dispatches Monaco with a clear triple at zero degrees (76-67, 1’50 to play). Thomas nails the last nail of a neat 2+1 (79-67, 1’33) without preventing the Palois team from winning their first quarter of the series.
Elan therefore logically lost for the second time in two days at Gastón Médecin’s flat. This time for having proposed a resistance in relation to its strengths of the moment. Obviously more will be needed on Tuesday night at the Palais des sports (8:30pm CEST) to hope to take this semi-final to a quarter that would take place again in Pau next Thursday.
One of the keys to the upcoming Game 4 obviously lies in Elan’s ability to better control a rebound hitherto owned by Monaco: 44 to 26 this Saturday (20 offensive rebounds to 8).
The Palois will have a whole night back by bus to work on the necessary adjustments to push this impressive Roca Team to the limit.