Ataman blasts Efes worst shooting night and Micic turnovers: 'Third division level' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com-SCANPIX Credit ZUMAPRESS.com-SCANPIX

Anadolu Efes Istanbul head coach Ergin Ataman couldn't keep his frustration after this season's worst shooting night. The EuroLeague champions made only 4 of 25 3-pointers in a loss to Zenit St. Petersburg 67-76.

Player of the Game EFF 27 Alex Poythress Points 21 Accuracy 9-12 Rebounds 9 Assists 1

"From 25 shots, we made only four 3-pointers. These are unacceptable shots. Unacceptable field goals. Players on this level are third-division basketball level with these shots," Ataman said on EuroLeague TV.

Anadolu Efes suffered the third loss in the last four EuroLeague games. On this stretch, the Turkish powerhouse made only 22 of 100 3-pointers (22%).

But Ataman was also disappointed with other factors of the game.

"We fought. We tried in defense. Only in the third quarter we gave away the baskets. Billy Baron, Kulagin, they found their off-screen shots and made them. We missed everything. Micic, the point guard, made 7 turnovers, so that's normal to lose on that court," Ataman added.

Vasilije Micic, the current EuroLeague MVP, made 7 of 14 Efes' turnovers. But he also added 22 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

The Serbian point guard also made half of Efes 3-pointers (2/5).

In the recent appearance on the Urbonus podcast, former Ataman's player Errick McCollum mentioned that calling out his team and players on media is one of his tactics to wake up his group.

"Ataman is very strategic. Everything he does, there's a mental aspect and a motivational factor. Something that kind of pushes the button to set the alarm in you," McCollum explained.

Anadolu Efes still hold the 8th seed in the standings, but AS Monaco and FC Bayern Munich already tied them with 10 wins and 11 losses.

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