Shaquielle McKissic: 'Thank God everybody doesn't have the roster Monaco has' / News - Basketnews.com

After Olympiacos' first loss in the season, Shaquielle McKissic talked to BasketNews about the game vs. Monaco and explained why it can be a blessing in disguise for the Reds.

Credit: Olympiacos BC Credit Olympiacos BC

After an impressive start to the season, Olympiacos Piraeus saw AS Monaco get away with a big (81-74) win over the reigning Greek champs and last year's EuroLeague semi-finalists.

The crowd at the Peace and Friendship Stadium was noisy and rowdy as usual as if they were celebrating their comeback to the stands. Olympiacos received a hefty fine and were sentenced to play their first game of the 2022-23 campaign behind closed doors after their fans lit up flares and firecrackers and invaded the court before Game 5 vs. Monaco was officially over.

As fate would have it, the Reds' maiden home outing of the season was against Peristeri, coached by club legend Vasilis Spanoulis. At the same time, the one that followed was a rematch of a compelling and exciting playoff series.

AS Monaco came to Piraeus determined to snatch their second straight win in Attika after beating Panathinaikos Athens last week. And that's what they did, largely thanks to Elie Okobo and Mike James, who combined for 43 points and 9 assists. The Frenchman got the lion's share (23), while the American scoring guard added the rest. If one was to put Jordan Loyd to the equation, the three scored or assisted on 72 of their side's 81 overall points.

If history tends to repeat itself one or several times, then Shaquielle McKissic has a good reason to feel a little bit better than any loss would allow him to do. The American forward was Olympiacos' top scorer when the Greeks hosted and eliminated Monaco on May 4. McKissic scored 18 points back then, helping the team coached by Giorgos Bartzokas snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and qualify for the Final Four that was held in Belgrade two weeks later.

This time around, the scenario was similar and different. McKissic compiled 15 points on 6/8 from the field, but couldn't prevent Olympiacos' first defeat in front of an almost sellout crowd. After the game, the experienced forward presented the gains and losses of what he considers a night to remember, albeit not for obvious reasons.

"We learned a good lesson, and thank God it was against Monaco," McKissic told BasketNews.

Olympiacos had been scoring in bunches before tonight's game, as they were coming off a 97-point game in Vitoria. McKissic thinks his team's offensive production made everyone complacent.

"We can't just win with offense," he stressed. "If you have a bad offensive night, then everything else goes to hell."

The Seattle-born player called Monaco "a good team" and added, shrugging his shoulders, "What can you do? It's the EuroLeague."

McKissic pointed out that Olympiacos "hadn't played against good guards so far."

"Monaco have 4-5 really good guards that can get hot anytime. We have to have a better game plan from the players' perspective going into the next time we meet up against them," he pointed out and, sprinkling a touch of irony into his words, he uttered:

"Thank God everybody doesn't have the roster Monaco has. Hats off to the refs, they did an amazing job tonight."

McKissic has no doubt that Olympiacos were well-prepared for another crucial game after getting three straight wins in Spain against FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

"I thought we were ready. It was a fun game. You want to learn these lessons from a really good team," he said, before reminding everyone that Olympiacos will try to return Monaco the favor in a few months, when the two of them face off again.

"We're going to have the opportunity to go to Monaco and beat them. I think we're a hell of a basketball team. So, you got to get kicked in the mouth every once in a while.," Shaquielle McKissic concluded.

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