Scariolo: “I knew what I had to do on the last play”

Sergio Scariolo analysed Real Madrid’s victory away at La Laguna Tenerife courtesy of a basket from Llull in the final seconds. The coach said this after the match: “It was an evenly matched game, even though we were ahead all the way through, with enough of a margin to think we could control it. Their pride and accurate shooting in the second half gave them their chance.”

“In a match like this, I knew what I had to do on the last play and who to use. I'm delighted for Llull because he's proving to be a tremendous captain. Some games he plays more, others less, but day in and day out he's always there, contributing and leading the team. Today, he had to do that on the court too, not only with the last play but also with some important three-pointers, and that's a very positive thing.”

“Llull interpreted it well. He let it go with his right hand and it was a great shot. A jump shot that was not easy. The designated killer in our team at that moment has to be him, even though there are other players who can take the last shot and score, but he has something special.”

A well-deserved victory
“Considering that you've just finished playing and you decide to rest key players like Abalde and Lyles, we can say that we left this court, which is very tough, with a victory, and that's a positive thing to celebrate. We have to improve aspects such as concentration, always being alert and not letting our guard down. It's December and we've been improving in many areas. We still have room for improvement, especially when it comes to the small details.”