Before the meeting, Sasa Obradovic’s men wanted to show that they were the current bosses of French basketball. At the break of this first match of the series, the cause was already heard: 31 points ahead (52-21) for Monaco!
Victor Wembanyama and his acolytes saw a team fall on them that left them only crumbs, especially during a one-sided second quarter (29-6). Like the positive version of the nightmarish third quarter against Olympiakos that the Monegasques had endured in the Euroleague semi-final in Kaunas (2-27).
In order not to see his team undergo the same correction next Monday evening, still in the Gaston-Médecin room in Monaco, Vincent Collet will have to quickly find solutions in order to limit the physical power and the Monegasque collective game, which during this first match of the series were of a very high standard.
Moreover, if the players of the Roca Team retain this level of involvement and altruism, the task looks complex for the Mets.
Despite a masterful counter by Wembanyama on Donatas Motiejusnas during the first Monegasque attack, followed by two free throws from the future French NBA star (2-4, 3rd), Monaco, on a steamroller, gradually got their hands on the game .
With Mike James as the official caviar supplier (7 assists in the first period), with a superior physical impact, a Euroleague version defense, the Monegasques, collective and motivated, let Motiejunas and John Brown III start the demolition business.
Then, Elie Okobo, (35-19, 15th), Jordan Loyd (40-19, 17th), Alpha Diallo (47-21, 20th) and James (52-21, 20th) chained the award-winning baskets, which put KO the Mets.
Under the eyes of Prince Albert, Monaco had already won at halftime. However, Sasa Obradovic’s men still won the third quarter (19-16) thus increasing their lead to 34 units (71-37) before the start of an anecdotal fourth quarter.
With 8 points and 7 rebounds, half of which were successful in the last quarter, Wembanyama failed to make an impact in this meeting. Unlike the Monegasque collective, where James’ statistics (12 points and 8 assists) sum up the state of mind.