Mike James replies to Scariolo: 'My statement hasn't and won't change' / News - Basketnews.com

Mike James doesn't give up on his words about ALBA: "Playing a box-and-one in spurts makes sense to change pace and rhythm, but 40 minutes is ridiculous and nasty basketball."

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Virtus Segafredo Bolognahead coachSergio Scariolo defended ALBA Berlin's decision to use a box-and-one defense against AS Monacostar guardMike James,who earlier claimed that "playing box-and-one for 40 minutes in a professional basketball game is ridiculous."

Mike James

MIN:31.49PTS:17.79 (53.62%)REB:3.57As:4.43ST:1.36BL:0TO:1.64GM:14ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

Scariolo backed his statements about the special defensive strategy by providing examples of Virtus Bologna, Toronto Raptors, and Spanish NT play.

"If a team with the budget that Monaco has, wins the game at the last shot because ALBA's defensive player slipped and couldn't contest Elie Okobo's shot, that means ALBA did a very good job," the Italian mastermind said.

For his part, Mike James reacted to recent Scariolo's observations, saying that he is not going to give up on his comments.

"My statement hasn't and won't change," he wrote on Twitter. "It didn't work because they lost for one, no matter if it was close or not, they lost. And playing a box-and-one in spurts makes sense to change pace and rhythm, but 40 minutes is ridiculous and nasty basketball.

"I wasn't mad/annoyed or anything else y'all trying to push on me. I just think it was nasty basketball, that's all. Y'all have an opinion and I have mine that's what Twitter is here for," James added.

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