Laso: 'The team carried out the game plan really well'
'We did really well in defense and that was key to the victory', explained Rudy following the match-up against UNICS Kazan.
Pablo Laso and Rudy Fernández spoke to the media to reflect on Real Madrid’s win over UNICS Kazan in the sides’ EuroLeague Round 19 match-up. The coach had the following to say after the game: “I congratulate the team on the win. We were playing two games here, one to get the victory and the second to regain the basket average. We didn't think about the latter and we hadn't said anything about it to the players because it wasn't necessary, although we did have it in our minds. Our first three quarters were very good, both defensively and offensively. The team carried out the game plan really well”.
“They’re a very aggressive team in defense and don't make life easy for you. Thanks to our good attacking play and the fact that we played the ball around well, we managed to give ourselves the defensive solidity to dominate the game. I'm happy with the win, but I'm aware that we're in the midst of a run of games that means that we have to quickly move on and think about the next match, which is on Friday in Monaco”.
Unbeaten at WiZink Center
“In a competition like the EuroLeague, in which you come up against the best teams in Europe, winning your home games means that you'll end up towards the top of the table and be in with a chance. I'm really grateful for the fans’ support and the team feels their backing. We've always managed to find a way to win games against the big teams. We come away feeling as if we produced a solid performance at home, but we're aware that every game is different and if you don't keep your focus and do the good things that we've been doing then it's perhaps no good for future games”.
Forthcoming matches
“You need between 18 and 20 wins to finish amongst the top eight and with 21 wins you can be amongst the top four. Our first challenge is to secure a playoff place. We're well on the way to that, but we've now got to finished the job off. Once we’ve achieved that, we’ll then think about our next objective, which is to finish amongst the top four so as to secure home-court advantage. In order to do that we'll have to play some good basketball. If we fail to do that, we won't be able to secure any wins”.
Rudy: “We were very focused in defense”
“Right from the off, we were aware that it's a team that's performing very well and are very aggressive and that their game is based very much on the physical side of things and we were very focused in defense. We performed really well and that was the key. We moved the ball well in offense and found some good shots, particularly for the players on the inside. That also helped us to post points from the outside”.
Defensive game
“The defense was key and that platform allowed us to play our offensive game. They rely heavily on counterattacks and turnovers and right from the start, we tried to ensure they weren’t allowed to do any of that and we managed to do that”.
“They’re a very aggressive team in defense and don't make life easy for you. Thanks to our good attacking play and the fact that we played the ball around well, we managed to give ourselves the defensive solidity to dominate the game. I'm happy with the win, but I'm aware that we're in the midst of a run of games that means that we have to quickly move on and think about the next match, which is on Friday in Monaco”.
Unbeaten at WiZink Center
“In a competition like the EuroLeague, in which you come up against the best teams in Europe, winning your home games means that you'll end up towards the top of the table and be in with a chance. I'm really grateful for the fans’ support and the team feels their backing. We've always managed to find a way to win games against the big teams. We come away feeling as if we produced a solid performance at home, but we're aware that every game is different and if you don't keep your focus and do the good things that we've been doing then it's perhaps no good for future games”.
Forthcoming matches
“You need between 18 and 20 wins to finish amongst the top eight and with 21 wins you can be amongst the top four. Our first challenge is to secure a playoff place. We're well on the way to that, but we've now got to finished the job off. Once we’ve achieved that, we’ll then think about our next objective, which is to finish amongst the top four so as to secure home-court advantage. In order to do that we'll have to play some good basketball. If we fail to do that, we won't be able to secure any wins”.
Rudy: “We were very focused in defense”
“Right from the off, we were aware that it's a team that's performing very well and are very aggressive and that their game is based very much on the physical side of things and we were very focused in defense. We performed really well and that was the key. We moved the ball well in offense and found some good shots, particularly for the players on the inside. That also helped us to post points from the outside”.
Defensive game
“The defense was key and that platform allowed us to play our offensive game. They rely heavily on counterattacks and turnovers and right from the start, we tried to ensure they weren’t allowed to do any of that and we managed to do that”.