Basketball: disillusionment for Monaco, eliminated in the quarter-final of the Euroleague by Fenerbahçe

He had to assume his status as the best scorer in the history of the Euroleague: if Mike James was an important fighter for Monaco, he did not allow the Roca Team, which lost to the wire against Fenerbahçe ( 79-80), Wednesday evening, to return to the Final Four.

However, he scored 20 points, and some will remain etched in the memories of Monegasque supporters for many years, like his floater 30 seconds from the end of overtime (79-77). But that wasn't enough.

“He says he is not a leader,” explains his coach, Sasa Obradovic. “I answer him: Yes, you lead the group through your play, your risk-taking, your aggressiveness. You have to know when to do it. » And that's exactly what he did against Fenerbahçe. Monaco was about to give up when the American did James. A three-point basket which set the Gaston-Médecin room on fire to allow Monaco to get back into the match (66-67) 1'52" from the end of the match, and then allowed Elie Okobo to go look for the extension.

However, his first period was complicated. James was treated to a fiery defense, notably from the Greek Nick Calathes, but also from the greats of Fener against whom he never feared going into a duel. But we had to fight hard to score our only two baskets on constructed actions before the break. First, it was he who opened the counter for the Roca Team, mired in the Turkish defense.

We had to wait until the 3rd minute for that (2-4, 3rd). Then, still under pressure, he only managed to attack the circle once to score (32-29, 17th) during a match of impressive physical intensity.

In the meantime, his cunning allowed him to score three free throws following a foul on a pseudo-shot attempt from midfield. He only brought in two. And above all was not awarded any decisive pass before the break.

His first offering was for Donatas Motiejunas, a real fighter and author of an important winning basket at this moment of the meeting (43-35, 21st). He then allowed his people to experience an improvement. After his first three-point basket (52-48, 27th), he obtained three new free throws due to a new foul by Calathes.

This time, the best scorer in the Euroleague won (55-48, 28th). But if he was skillful in the exercise (5/6), James was far from his standards for the rest: 40% success at two points, 33% at three points, three lost balls and two small assists before the start of the final quarter. When he returned to the game, with Monaco trailing by two points (58-60), he provoked a new foul from Calathes. But that wasn't enough... Moreover, it was the latter who, in overtime, scored the winning basket for the Istanbulites.