Ivica Zubacs on SPORT24: “In defense we had to deal with everyone like Giannis”

Last but not least, the comeback Croatia made in the second half of the game against Greece was impressive. But she missed two big stages. Or, if you prefer, Greece had them in the final minute of the game with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

However, for Ivica Zubac, Croatia’s problem (sic) was not what happened in the closing seconds, but what came before. Mainly in the first part.

The main center of Damir Mulaomerovic spoke to the Sportish about the game with Greece and said with all sincerity that “I don’t know what to say about the reasons why this game was lost. I think we were tired at the end because we tried really hard to get back into the game. We took possession to get it, we made a lot of good defences. In general, we were faster than in the first part. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo ended up making some big plays, making two blocks and scoring two big baskets. It ended up being a few minor things, but that’s what great players like Giannis do“.

In his eyes, it was all about starting the race, not finishing it: “We have to start as we did with Greece in the second part. We lost because we didn’t lack endurance in our performance for any other reason. If we had started the game differently, we would have had a better chance of winning. We may not have succeeded, but we showed character against one of the best teams in the tournament. Tomorrow is a new day, we must work and seek victory. The upcoming game is important. We should be aggressive from the first minute“.

Finally, he answered the question about the Croatian defense change in the second half (going to the substitutions): “That was the plan from the beginning, but we didn’t execute it properly. We paid for it. We were very focused on Giannis but Greece gave Tyler Dorsey a lot of balls and he shot big, that’s what he’s doing. We had to focus on everyone equally, like John. Like tagging five players like Giannis. We didn’t do it today (ss: yesterday) and paid for it“.

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