Photo: M.Serbin ( cskabasket.com )
There were no questions to Duda at the press conference. If his opponent Ettore Messina, having briefly stated his opinion on the match, also briefly answering a single question, was genuinely surprised that no one wanted to find out anything from him (immediately provoking the fire of dozing mass media representatives), then Ivkovich could calmly after the opening remarks leave the hall.
What questions? The Dynamo coach, who had just sadly squandered his 15-point leadership in the fight against the Euroleague vice-champion, put everything on the shelves. He stated that a great advantage was obtained due to good protection and high-quality quick separation. He admitted that the failure was caused by hasty attacks and a disordered defense, in which his wards were too keen on switching and sometimes yawned rivals at the “three”. He complained that the team was again undermined by health problems: in the first half Popovich left out of the blue (we note that Tykon Dean, recovering from an injury, came out late and looked pale). He touched on the topic of low-quality refereeing, beloved by the press, proposing to send away the little-known referee Galkin, who, according to Ivkovich, whistled exclusively in one direction - it is clear which way. I was glad that his wards beat CSKA, despite the low performance of Papadopoulos, "perhaps the best central Europe." Perhaps some skepticism was caused only by his passage about the absence of free throws attempts at Lazar - yes, the Russian Greek did not get on the line, but 8 violations of the rules were recorded on it, more than on any other participant in the match.
By the way, in the unluckiness of the usual blue-white leader, perhaps the main surprise for the hosts lay. Instead of the usual game through Papadopoulos, the guests offered a counterattack and activity of the defenders of the Russian national team Bykov and Moni, in the writings about the unsuccessful actions of which during the season the journalists wiped all feathers. And here - here - Bykov with a tank crawls under the shield, Monya fights in defense and shoots with an average ... It is not surprising that the dumbfounded army men began to distribute stupid programs (Andersen once managed to please even the side of the shield, performing a transfer to the other side), and the Dynamo team rejoiced at the opportunity, they briskly fled to “+15” after the first of the two “three rubles” by Fotsis.
It was then that Messine, who had previously experimented with the line-up (the Italian specialist explained the attempts by trying out the fouls from Andersen, Papaloukas and Savrasenko), and had to remind the wards how they can play and return to the site the most effective of the line-ups (paradoxically, the company “ rescuers "Papaloukas with Smodis composed Ponkrashov, Savrasenko and Pashutin). And to the judges - Ivkovich is right - to add confidence to the CSKA with a couple of disputed whistles. Dynamo coach is doubly right, noting in the end that CSKA is stronger. This, of course, is a fact. But if the fact is a little help, it becomes undeniable.
If you forget about the judicial factor, then you can recall a lot of interesting things. Say, the unprecedented utility of Ponkrashov, who actually stretched the game along with Papaloukas. In a jerk 26: 5, saving for CSKA Moscow, inexplicably cluttered the distant hits of Smodis and Langdon. All the other points were scored exclusively by Theo and Anton, and the Russian, along the way, also gave a couple of successful passes. “I want to knock on wood,” Messina began to examine the table at which he sat, in doubt, whether the structure made of chipboard was covered with plastic. - I don’t know what’s going on in Anton’s mind, but in the Russian playoffs he still performs well. It's nice that he adds in the details, and in making decisions, often organizing attacks, even when Papaloukas is nearby at the site. ”
These two, in the end, made the result, creating the mood for the partners (clearly falling from the perimeter in the end) and ruining the opponents. In the course of the fourth period, I even had a chance to see a rare picture when Ivkovich peacefully behaved that night. Got on the nuts ... Papadopoulos, who got the "techie" for disputes with the referee. Dusan really wanted this privilege to remain with him.
Nikolai TSYNKEVICH