Sergio Scariolo explained the play in the Mario HezonjaMadrid's most outstanding player with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals for a PIR of 24put Real Madrid on the ropes in their courageous victory 74-75 in the Euroleague against Hapoel Tel Aviv.
With 9 seconds remaining, and with no problems in possession (they had 14 seconds after an offensive rebound), Hezonja missed a triple with 74-75 on the scoreboard that caused Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv to have a final shot to try to win the game.
That erroneous decision by Hezonja caused the surprise on the Real Madrid bench and one energetic reprimand from Sergio Llull at the end of the match.
Scariolo on Hezonja's hasty triple: “It was a big mistake by the table because they didn't restart possession”
At the conclusion of the match Scariolo tried to explain Hezonja's strange decision by sharing a table error: “It took a while to reset the stopwatch”.
“I need to see it again, but my feeling is… I don't know if Maledon's shot hit the hoop or not; if it hit the hoop, it was a big mistake by the table because they didn't restart possession. At that moment, given that mistake, it was the best decision to shoot, because time was running out,” Scariolo explained in statements reproduced by 'eurohoops'.
This delay could have caused Hezonja to think that the possession was over and decide to shoot the three-pointer.
Scariolo highlights Real Madrid's “great victory” against Hapoel: “There was no panic”
Regarding the victory, the Italian coach assessed that “we need to reach a point where the players perform at their maximum regardless of whether they are starters or non-starters, whether they play more or play less, whether they play better or worse. When we get there, we will be a strong team.”
Mario Hezonja tries to evade Micic's defense.
Scariolo explained that this is “a great victory” for Real Madrid: “Firstly, because of the level of the rival, they have been the best team in the Euroleague so far. Secondly, because of the control we had of the game from start to finish. And even within that control, there was no panic when they achieved a six-point lead almost at the end of the third quarter.”
“In the Euroleague every game is extremely difficult both at home and away, although it was obviously even more so, especially when you have had such bad luck with a trip like the one we have had. In the locker room I have told them that if they have been able to come here in these circumstances and be the best, it means that we will have more options,” he noted.
Real Madrid is tenth, with seven wins and six losses in the thirteen rounds played, two wins behind the Israeli team.
