One game at a time

May 25, 2012

One game at a time

Dusko Savanovic - Power Electronics Valencia

Hello again! This is, as always, Dusko Savanovic of Power Electronics, getting ready for Game 2 of the Quarterfinals here in Madrid. Game 1 is already in the books and there is nothing we can do about it. We had a very good chance to win it but didn't manage to do it. The series is not over - no way! - and we have shown we can compete against Madrid on a 40-minute basis. We are not going to cry over this loss. What happened, happened and that's the end of the story. We have to leave that behind and think about the next game. We have another chance to win in Madrid on Thursday and we cannot afford thinking about Game 1 more that the half an hour after it ended! I am sure Madrid forgot about it already and this is what both teams will do, all series long - play a game and start thinking about the next one. It is the only way to win the series, too.

There are two keys words to our loss in Game 1: offensive rebounds. Madrid grabbed 21 offensive boards and this is the main thing we have to improve on Thursday. It was one of the biggest problems and let's face it, people can blame us for not doing out job well. At some moments, I was double-teaming and focused on things other than boxing out. In the end, I can say that offensive rebounds were our biggest problem, it is a big reason for our loss. A lot of balls fell in their hands and every loose ball happened to be theirs! Again, I don't want to say they were lucky, because Madrid is really good at offensive boards, that's undeniable. We are ready to fix that problem in Game 2, especially me. I will change some small details and focus on boxing out - not only me, everyone.

I am sure Game 2 will be very different in general terms. No matter the sport - football, basketball, volleyball, whatever - if two teams play 10 consecutive games, each of them will be different from the others, even if the differences are small. I expect tactical differences, of course, as Madrid and Power Electronics have played each other several times already. You cannot bring anything big to the table, but just change this and that. Every game in this series will be based in the previous one, but with small differences. In three years in Spain, these are the most important games I am playing - man, this is the Euroleague Quarterfinals! I was excited waiting for Game 1, but in a positive way. We lost and it is part of the game: this is not football; if you don't win, then you've lost. I have been waiting for this series for a long time, the goal is too big to be ignored, and I am sure that after having played Game 1, I will be even more focused to give my best on Thursday.

There were a lot of Power Electronics fans in the stands at the Caja Magica. You gotta love that! We were sure that everybody would get the message in Valencia, that these games in Madrid were very important for everyone in the city, especially all Power Electronics fans. A lot of people came to support us, travelling several hours on buses. I really cannot thank them enough, because you really can notice them in the gym. There was a crowd full of orange jerseys, cheering and screaming for us. They gave us a huge support and I just hope that they can give us the same energy in Game 2. That would be perfect! No question about it, we will try to give them the only present we can offer for all their support, which is - of course! - winning Game 2 on Thursday. They travelled to see their team win and if we do so, the whole team will dedicate this win to them - and again, we will do everything we can to tie the series for all Valencia fans.

For some reason, Real Madrid is always in my way to big things. I lost a ULEB Cup semifinals against them when I played for Unics Kazan, lost the Spanish League quarterfinals against Madrid with Cajasol last season, and here they are again. It is about time one of my teams manages to beat them! Somehow, they are always there. Every time I have to play a decisive, really important club game, it is against Madrid. In the last three years, I believe I have been to Madrid more than to Belgrade! Every game I play against Madrid, for all these reasons, is emotional. Every time Madrid is in my way. I know it is going to be a big battle, I know I am fighting for something big - and the goal is bigger than ever now.

I feel I am part of something big and our fans support just proves it. We are fighting to get to the Euroleague Final Four, to win the Euroleague title! I don't need to tell all Power Electronics fans how much we need their support. They know it and are always there. We came back in the regular season and the Top 16, winning all the decisive games. We are all ready to do it again, change the series momentum on Thursday and get back home with good chances to go... to the Final Four! Let's take one game at the time, of course, but we must win in Madrid to have our chances. Wish us luck!

POSTED BY

Dusko Savanovic - Madrid

DATE:

Wednesday, March 23, 2011