Dwayne Bacon: 'The pressure is always on Olympiacos' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AS Monaco- Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali Credit AS Monaco- Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

With almost two minutes remaining in the first quarter of Olympiacos Piraeus duel against AS Monaco in Game 2, Sasa Obradovic called a timeout. The Serbian coach had enough.

Player of the Game EFF 23 Danilo Andjusic Points 19 Accuracy 5-7 Rebounds 5 Assists 1

In addition to losing Game 1 by 54-71, Obradovic saw Tyler Dorsey conclude a 15-2 run for the hosts, who were up 16-10 at that point. Obradovic was furious to the extent that his screams almost covered the chants coming from the exuberant home fans.

The quarter finished 16-10 thanks to back-to-back baskets from Dwayne Bacon. After the timeout, Danilo Andjusic entered the court. It was the only change Obradovic made to the lineup.

"We have two groups of guys that both can compete at a high level," Bacon explained to BasketNews after the game.

"Our second group is guys who try to be that spark in every chance they get. Sometimes, our first group needs us to come in and just wake them up a little bit. I feel like we did that. We competed hard, and then and our first unit kind of fed off us."

Credit AS Monaco- Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

Monaco's intensity from Game 1 to Game 2 was far removed, and the ease with which they ran in transition in the first 8 seconds became a real difference-maker.

Olympiacos's initial 16-6 run went to waste since Bacon kept scoring throughout the first half, either by attacking the close out or by shooting from the perimeter.

In the Sasa Obradovic era, Monaco's possessions in isolation situations have significantly increased. This has a lot to do with two players taking more initiative - Dwayne Bacon and Mike James. Both are excellent one-on-one players whose role was upgraded under the Serbian tactician.

In the second quarter of Game 2, a screen on the top of the key was enough for Bacon to get the ball and do his thing.

Dwayne Bacon

MIN:24.72PTS:13.35 (51.26%)REB:3.19As:1ST:1.04BL:0TO:1.19GM:26ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

The former NBA player scored 6 points off pick-and-pop situations, two in isolation mode, another four in catch-and-drive, and three in catch-and-shoot. He went to the locker room with 17 points overall, on 7/12 from the field, plus 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

When Bacon went quiet in the third quarter, that's when Olympiacos's real nightmare started. Mike James, who had only scored two points off a couple of free throws in the first 20 minutes, poured in 16 on 4/5 from distance to break the game wide open.

"At the end of the day, Mike and I are both two high-level scorers," Bacon says.

"He wasn't going in the first half, but I was. I didn't shoot as much in the second half, but he was going. So, when you got two good players like that, it kind of balances out. I'm happy that we had that. We didn't have that in the first game.

Everybody knows how Mike plays, how good he is, and what he can bring to the team. We fed off each other, and that's how we got the win."

Monaco were up 40-28 at half-time thanks to a huge 20-0 run in the second quarter. That was the turning point in Game 2, which did not simply elevate the guests but also upset the hosts.

The Reds were carried away by Monaco's full-court pressing, made turnovers, and took hasty shots, playing exactly at the pace that Monaco like to play.

Asked what it took for the EuroLeague newcomers to tie the series in Piraeus, Bacon simply utters:

"Discipline. We went back and watched the film when we played for the second time in the regular season at Monaco; how we kept the pressure on them. That's what we did. We came out to fight hard, knowing that they're a top team and that their fans are very involved. They had only lost one game here in the regular season."

In fact, only Crvena Zvezda of all EuroLeague teams had survived at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. But that was back in January when up to 1.000 fans were allowed in Greek indoor arenas.

Before the game, Bacon told Monaco TV that playing in front of the heated Olympiacos crowd is something he had never seen, even playing in the NBA.

"College can be sort of like this, but this arena was pretty filled top to bottom. It's like a Final Four court, where fans are all around. It's a great place to play, honestly," the former Florida State standout said.

Last Friday, April 22, was Good Friday for the Orthodox Church, and that's the main reason why Olympiacos didn't announce a sold-out for Game 2. However, the atmosphere was hot as ever, even when the home team was evidently being outplayed.

"It's like the NCAA, but they got a lot more fans, they're a lot more involved," Bacon tells BasketNews.

"In the NCAA, an arena can get super packed, but Olympiacos have a lot of fans who believe in them, and they're out there yelling the whole night - regardless of whether they're winning or losing. They're definitely their sixth man."

In fact, most fans remained seated after Game 2 was over, treating coach Giorgos Bartzokas and his players with warm applause, which might also have been a farewell gift to them in case Olympiacos's EuroLeague season is over in the Principality this week.

"It's impressive; something that -honestly- I've never seen before in professional sports, especially when I was in the NBA," Bacon repeats.

"It's nothing like the NBA, it's totally different. But I love those type of moments. It's definitely unique. Seen it in the playoffs has been a crazy experience, and I'm blessed to be here."

Fans or no fans, Monaco handed Olympiacos theirheaviest home defeat ever in the playoffs. Not bad for a newcomer.

"Wow, that's impressive!" Bacon exclaims. "Especially for a first-year team like us. We got a lot of new guys, but also a lot who can compete at the highest level. If we play like we did in the second game, we can compete with anybody."

In contrast to what happened in Game 1, Monaco managed to respond to Olympiacos with the same level of defensive toughness in the second fixture.

"That's exactly how we played them. We were tough, physical," Bacon concurs.

"They're also a physical team, which makes the game easier for both teams. They took us out of the game on Wednesday, but we came back using the same stuff that they used on us."

With the series tied at 1-1, Bacon says he's expecting some tough games in the Principality this week. The 40th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft thinks highly of Olympiacos.

"At the end of the day, they're a great team. They know how to win, they've been to the Final Four plenty of times, and that's somewhere we want to go. We got to play like every game is our last game, and if we compete at the level we did in Game 2, we should be fine."

Credit Roca Team-Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

As the series continues next Wednesday and Friday at the Salle Gaston Medecin, Bacon thinks all the pressure will be on Olympiacos. His words resonate with those of Giorgos Bartzokas before the series' tipoff in Piraeus.

"I don't think we really have a lot of pressure," he argues.

"Not many people expected us to be here. I know for a fact that a lot of people didn't expect us to win Game 2. So, honestly, I think it will be them. They're the team with the most history in EuroLeague, and I feel like the pressure is always on them."

Whatever the outcome will be for Monaco, when everything is said and done, Bacon knows for a fact that his maiden season overseas has been nothing short of "a blessing."

"That's all I can say." Of course, the Final Four will sweeten things up considerably.

"Doing the things I'm doing, it will be another stepping stone if we can make it to the Final Four. I expect our crowd to come out and be our sixth man."

Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.