Sasa Obradovic ahead of Tel Aviv: 'We must be smart enough not to react to provocations' / News - Basketnews.com

Monaco coach Sasa Obradovic thinks his players must be mentally strong to endure a wild atmosphere in Tel Aviv, where Maccabi fans will pack the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Games 3 and 4.

Credit: AS Monaco Direction de la Communication / Stephane Danna Credit AS Monaco Direction de la Communication / Stephane Danna

AS Monaco will be tested in the incandescent Menora Mivtachim Arena, packed to full capacity, as Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv host the Roca Team in Games 3 and 4 of the EuroLeague playoffs.

Free throws this season

75%17,2Points made:17,2Accuracy:75,2%Place in standings:2Record max:31Record min:7Most made FTs:Mike JamesTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

After the first two games, the teams are tied 1-1, while the winner of Game 3 will be just one victory away from the Final Four.

Game 4 will take place on Thursday in Tel Aviv, at the same time (8:05 p.m.). Maccabi have won the EuroLeague six times and been runners-up nine times. The Roca Team is aiming for their first Final Four.

After a video session this Monday morning at Gaston-Medecin, the Roca Team took the bus to Nice Cote d'Azur airport. A four-hour flight brought the squad coached by Sasa Obradovic to Israel.

After struggling in Game 1 (67-79 and a terrible 4/26 3-point shooting), Monaco were able to rectify the situation in Game 2, winning 86-74. Jordan Loyd was the author of the best performance of his career in the EuroLeague with 33 points, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Only two teams have managed to win this season on the floor of Maccabi Tel Aviv -- FC Barcelona and Red Star Belgrade. In the regular season, last October, AS Monaco lost 78-70 after leading by 19 points during the first half. Jordan Loyd and Wade Baldwin (Maccabi) both had 21 points.

Now, the Menora Mivtachim Arena and its 11,192 seats will be packed, with all tickets sold out in just 4 minutes!

"The late-game electricity and tension that we experienced in the regular season at Maccabi is a kind of preparation for Game 3 and what awaits us there," Sasa Obradovic maintains.

"We will have to be smart enough not to react to provocations. If you want to win, you have to be focused on yourself and on the game. For the majority of players in the team, this will be the most important in their career," the Serbian coach holds.

"But it will not be the same game as in the regular season. We had controlled the first 3 quarters before losing. We will have to be mentally strong."

Yakuba Ouattara, captain of the Roca Team, expects "a big fight."

"We are going there with confidence. The mind and the heart will make the difference. When we play the right way, we can beat everyone. Maccabi are formidable at home but not invincible," the French guard-forward said.

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