Hello everybody, here I am again! This is Bootsy Thornton of Efes Pilsen, back with you all right at the Top 16 break and days before the Turkish Cup final eight. We started the Top 16 pretty well despite a loss in Madrid, as we managed to beat Montepaschi in front of our fans in Istanbul. We played really well and Montepaschi did not shoot the ball they way they are used to. We managed to win the game and went to Tel Aviv to face Maccabi, knowing that they always play great at home. We were in the game for the best part of it but Alan Anderson played really well and a lot of their players had small contributions that helped Maccabi to win the game. So here we are, with a 1-2 record and hosting the next two games. We were angry when we lost in Madrid because we led for the best part of it. We control the majority of the game and came up short in the final 5 minutes. Louis Bullock made a lot of big shots at the end of the game - which he normally does. Charles played well, it was a special game for him as he went back to Madrid, but Bullock made all big shots down the stretch.
Coach Ataman has changed the rotation a little bit lately. Ermal Kuqo, who was not playing much in the Euroleague, is now seeing a lot of minutes. He is a good player, a banger, really well-coached. He knows how to play back to the basket and that gives us an extra chance in offense. He played in Spain, for Valencia, so he stepped on the floor against Madrid and did really well. He was familiar with everyone out there. He makes us more unpredictable, too. We now can play with two big players on the floor or use Nachbar or Shumpert at the '4' position. Of course, it is a bit more difficult for our coach, because there are more players he has to worry about stepping on court, but I am sure a lot of team would love to have that problem! It is a difficult job to keep everyone happy, after all.
Playing against Montepaschi was definitely special. It was different, because it was the first time I played an official against them. Scrimmage games don't really count. It was different to play against those guys that I played with for a long time. We had some fun about it before the game but once the ball went up, each teams wants to win and there is no room for anything but trying to beat your opponents. We also talked about it after the game and all agreed about the same - how important is to win at home in the Top 16. You have to win at home in the Euroleague, no matter which round you are in. If not, you are always in a very difficult situation. So far, all six games in our group have been won by the home teams. Anyone losing at home will not probably be able to recover in time to reach the Quarterfinals. Points differential will also be important, we have to try to win every game but the biggest margin possible. Imagine that, it is already ficciult to win, imagine trying to do it by a certain number of points! We will do our best, of course, and are ready for the challenge.
Every group is being tough in this Top 16. We saw Maroussi and Partizan beating Panathinaikos or Asseco Prokom winning in Malaga against Unicaja. Even with that, our group is very balanced and I expect every single game to go down to the last 2 or 3 minutes. Each game was been close and all teams match up well. All teams play the same style of basketball besided Maccabi, that plays more up-tempo. We all match up well, however, and this is why the games are so close. We game in Tel Aviv was close for 35-36 minutes. We had a couple of turnovers at the wrong time and could not come back to the game. Overall, the game was definitely closer than a 10-point one. It ended up being like that, but it was closer than that. We have to shoot well in Istanbul to beat them and play the same way did in defense for the best part of game in Tel Aviv. We played great basketball for 36 minutes, but that's not enough to win a basketball game in the Top 16. You have to play well for 40 minutes and no less than that, especially in this group. If we do that, I think we should be OK.
The next couple of games will be critical for a lot of teams all around the competition, almost every single one of them. We are still competitive and depend on ourselves to make it to the next round. There are a lot of teams this season with chances to go to the Final Four and win the Euroleague title. Right now, any team in our group has a good chance to make it to the Final Four. As for other groups, I don't think it is a big surprise because they have good players like Qyntel Woods. He did well in Olympiacos and everywhere he hasbeen, because he is a great scorer. I didn't expect them to beat Unicaja in Malaga by 20 points! This is basketball and like I said, you have to play hard in the Top 16 or things like this can happen. For instance, Khimki also has a lot of good players and even when they never played the Euroleague, it has always been an important team in Russian basketball along with Unics, Dynamo and of course CSKA. I wouldn't discard Caja Laboral, they are very able to go to Russia and beat Khimki over there next week.
We had a very good atmosphere in our home game in the Top 16. A lot of people came to see us and that always helps. Having so much people backing us only makes us better. The basketball atmosphere has also been good on the road, too. Madrid was great but Tel Aviv was even better because Maccabi fans are wild. They are always behind their team. I know the crowd in Siena and how loyal they are, too. I know that for a fact. A lot of fans in Europe have wild fans, take Partizan or Panathinaikos. All we hope is to have a good home crowd backing us in our next couple of home games, that may be the key for us to play the Quarterfinals.
Everything is great in Istanbul. We are still first in the Turkish League despite losing against Fenerbahce Ulker this weekend. We have the Turkish Cup and will travel to Adana soon to fight for the title. I can't complain about the city because it is great to live in here. There is a little bit of traffic in certain days but other than that, it is good to be here. We are playing a lot of keys games lately. In the last three weeks we have played against Madrid, Montepaschi, Maccabi or Fenerbahce... we will go and play the Turkish Cup, face this three Euroleague teams again, as well as facing Besiktas and Galatasaray in the Turkish League. It's a tough month! If we take one game at the time, we should be OK.
I don't wanna think ahead than the Turkish Cup because we all want to go back home with the trophy. We will then move on to the game against Maccabi. One way or another, wish us luck. I will catch you all later on the Top 16.
POSTED BY
BOOTSY THORNTON - ISTANBUL, TURKEY
DATE:
Thursday, February 18, 2010