Monaco, damaged by Maccabi Tel Aviv, already back to the wall in the quarterfinals of the Euroleague

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: Sebnem Coskun / ANADOLU AGENCY / Anadolu Agency via AFP 23:40 p.m., April 25, 2023

Monaco, suffocated and damaged by an experienced and tactically superior Maccabi Tel Aviv team, was logically defeated in its room Tuesday night (79-67) in Game 1 of the quarterfinals of the Euroleague basketball, a setback that already puts its back to the wall. Before Thursday, date of the second opposition between the two teams, the Monegasque coach Sasa Obradovic will have to find the words and, above all, the tactical solutions, to reverse the trend so as not to find themselves leading 2-0 in this best-of-five series.

His team will also have to play at a higher level to hope to equalize, before travelling for two games in Israel, where Maccabi are the best team in the Euroleague this season (only two losses). And where it will be necessary to win at least once to hope to qualify for the Final 4, which has not reached a club of the championship of France since 1997 (Asvel).

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Lack of physics

Unable to score a single three-point basket on the first 18 attempts, and overall lacking skill throughout the game (17/30 at 2 pts, 4/26 at long distance), Monaco also sank on the physical level at the end of the game against an opponent calibrated for the Final 4 of Kaunas and who won all four quarters. Josh Nebo (12 points, 8 rebounds) was physically impressive and stars Lorenzo Brown (15 points, 4 assists) and Wade Baldwin IV (20 points, 6 assists) played at their level. That is to say very good.

Monaco could not resist the physical impact of the Israelis: in front of 400 burning fans, Maccabi never offered Monaco easy possession. Led in the first quarter, he gradually returned. Thanks to three three-point baskets (compared to 0/10 for ASM at the break) from Colson (2) and Baldwin (16-18, 10th), the Israelis went into the lead, to offer themselves a nice 7-0 straddling the first and second quarters (16-22, 12th).

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Motiejunas heavily heckled

Monaco did not abdicate. But Maccabi's defense was fierce, like those fouls by Nebo (14th) and Poythress (16th) on Donatas Motiejunas, to give him no easy baskets. As a result, he made only three of his four free throws (23-26, 16th). The Lithuanian, however, stayed in his match. And if Monaco did not go ahead before the break, it was primarily because of an unsportsmanlike foul by Alpha Diallo on Baldwin (which cost five points, 27-34, 18th) and a lack of precision from long distance, as on Elie Okobo's final shot on the last possession (33-36, 20th).

A missed pass from Motiejunas, an easy basket given to Baldwin: the start of the second half was complicated for the Roca Team, quickly trailing by twelve (37-49, 25th), then thirteen points (47-60, 29th). At the end of a controlled third quarter, the Israelis entered the final stretch with a +10 more than favorable (50-60, 30th). After 18 long-range losses, James (15 pts) finally scored behind the line. He had 6:45 left (55-66, 34th). It was too late. Monaco never returned.