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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/bonzie.jpg\")
Bonzie Colson – Photo Credit: Maccabi Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div> While I\u2019m sure Maccabi would like to turn the ball over less, last night they turned it over less often than they did last Thursday night, with 10 turnovers (to 15 assists) compared to the 17 turnovers in game 2 (to 14 assists).<\/p>\n Although the shooting last night was overall subpar (more on that below), as Monaco showed by turning around their fortunes from game 1 to game 2, this is something that can switch on pretty quickly. Plus Maccabi will have the fans \u2013 who were electrifying in their support last night \u2013 to help push them again. Oded Katash – Photo Credit: Dov Halickman<\/p><\/div> \u201cThere is pressure and after you do win there is still pressure. We have to manage that and be there for our fans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not over yet we need to play better defensively rebound better \u2013 we will watch film and come Thursday,\u201d Colson said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t feel pressure, this is a game we all love. We go out there have fun and give it our all. <\/p>\n \u201cThe fans were great we felt their energy from the start we will need them from the start Thursday.\u201d John Borwn – Photo Credit: Euroleague<\/p><\/div> Looking at Monaco\u2019s numbers from last night stresses the point even further: the visitors shot at 28.8% from 3 (8\/26) and 80.8% from the line (21\/26), meaning that they earned an extra 9 points from a similar number of shots last night. Given that Maccabi ended up losing by 5 points, their shooting night is something that they want to move on from quickly as they turn their focus to tomorrow night.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a tough loss, but we have another game in two days,\u201d Josh Nebo (3 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist) said. \u201cI think they made more shots than us and we m issed a lot of shots. We need to make shots on Thursday and play better defense. The crowd was amazing as usual we are very thankful for their support.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExecution, teamwork and we hit shots,\u201d John Brown said of the reasons for his team\u2019s win. \u201cOur defense and defensive rebounding was a big factor in this game.\u201d<\/p>\n Of James\u2019s improvement in this game \u2013 he had 18 points and was 50% from 2 (3\/6) and 3 (3\/6) at halftime, whereas he had 26 points on 8\/24 from the field across the first two games \u2013 John Brown said: \u201cWe had nothing to do with that, that was just Mike taking initiative on his own. He hit those shots and other guys got going so that just gave us what we needed.\u201d Roman Sorkin – Photo Credit: Euroleague<\/p><\/div> Again, there\u2019s lots of room for improvement, but there were too many \u201coh no\u201d moments in last night\u2019s game which caused groans from the crowd, something that Maccabi will need to eliminate from their game if they are to force the series to go to a deciding 5th game in Monaco next week.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to lift our heads and use what we have done this whole season to stay together and work together to get out of this slump,\u201d Katash said after the game. \u201cWe are all disappointed that we couldn\u2019t win for the fans and I can\u2019t remember a time that we saw them like this and how enthusiastic they were.\u201d<\/p>\n GAME 3. — Sports Rabbi (@thesportsrabbi) May 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nThe Good: The fat lady hasn\u2019t sung<\/strong>
\nMonaco won this battle, but they haven\u2019t won the war (yet). Monaco may have won last night \u2013 and stolen back home court advantage in the series \u2013 but the series isn\u2019t over.
\nIt is difficult to find many positives from the win. It wasn\u2019t the strongest game from Maccabi\u2019s star backcourt of Lorenzo Brown and Baldwin, however both still hit the scoreboard and they were both in double-digits for performance index rating, with 10 and 24 respectively.<\/p>\n
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\nWhen asked whether his team broke down given the significance of the game, Maccabi coach Oded Katash responded, \u201cThe pressure has been around from the first EuroLeague game this season, I didn\u2019t find that it put us under pressure, but it could have been over-motivation and it can happen to any team. We really wanted to win this game and from here we have to move forward and we have done a great job this season, so we have to play with a lot of passion and pride. We are playing against a good team and we have to try and move things to our way of playing.<\/p>\n
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\nThe Bad: Shooting<\/strong>
\nIn game 1, Monaco shot 15.4% from 3 (4\/26), which was a number that killed their game and worked in favor of Maccabi\u2019s defensive strategy, leading to a 12-point loss. Last night, Maccabi had a similar experience, although not as bad, shooting at 24% from 4 (6\/25) and 69.2% (18\/26) from the foul line.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/IMG_0405.jpg\")
\nThe Ugly: Over-motivation<\/strong>
\nKatash said that his side was perhaps over-motivated, which may be the reason for some of the uglier moments in the game: Roman Sorkin (3 points) making a complete mess of a dunk in the first quarter to hit the rim and see the ball rebounded and taken up the other end by Monaco; Martin being called for a travel when later in the first quarter when he was struggling to get rid of the ball without being given much support from his teammates; a Lorenzo Brown missed layup early in the last quarter; Baldwin doing the hard work to block a John Brown shot attempt, only to see Donatas Motiejunas (9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal) grab the offensive rebound and get an easy 2 points; Lorenzo Brown inexplicitly turning over the ball with 41 seconds left.<\/p>\n\n
1-1.
ACTION. pic.twitter.com\/kYoeg2qQ5r<\/a><\/p>\n