The star guard netted just 10 points, yet his team grabbed a crucial Game 4 win
Monaco's defensive aces rose to the occasion on an off night for Mike James
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Much was expected ahead of AS Monaco’s Game 4 clash at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on Friday night, with Sasa Obradovic’s squad on the brink of exiting the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs. Star guard Mike James had been relatively quiet by his lofty standards through the first three games, but the platform was there for the 33-year-old to become the hero.
In the end, though, it was Monaco's defensive aces who got the job done as the Monegasques grabbed a 62-65 win in Istanbul, limiting Fenerbahce to its lowest-ever points total in a playoff game. James, meanwhile, was held to just 10 points, his joint second-lowest score this season, although he did hit a crucial three-pointer to put Monaco 57-61 ahead with his first make of the second half. He also dished the assist – his third of the night – for Donta Hall as the athletic center dunked in the open floor to restore Monaco’s four-point advantage, 59-63.
Staying above water with defense
Going all the way back to the first quarter, it became quite apparent that the high scoring from Games 1, 2 and 3 was not going to continue in Game 4. Fenerbahce held a 15-11 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes, then 33-30 at halftime. Elie Okobo (11 points) and James (7) combined for 60% of Monaco’s first-half points, but it was hardly a vintage display by Coach Obradovic’s men. After all, Monaco had shot 11 for 32 from the floor (34.4%), including 2 for 9 from three-point land (22.2% 3FG), and had dished just 2 assists.
Still, the gap was just three points and there was plenty of room for improvement. One big positive is that Monaco had managed to cope with the absence of Defensive Player of the Year candidate John Brown to injury, with Alpha Diallo, Jaron Blossomgame and Yakuba Ouattara all dialing up their energy levels a notch. On that end of the floor, there wasn’t too much that needed changing.
Better ball movement and big plays
There were three-pointers galore at the start of the third, with Fenerbahce knocking down 3 and Jordan Loyd hitting 2 in quick succession to prevent the hosts from pulling away. Monaco would go on to hit a further 2 triples in the third quarter, as well as going 3 for 9 from two-point range, to take a 47-48 lead into the final period. For a Fenerbahce team that leans so heavily on its offensive capabilities, Monaco was making the Turkish side play at the pace it wanted to play at.
The chess match continued in the fourth period, but in the end James and Hall saw Monaco over the line. It was rather poignant how Hall’s big block on one end was followed by James’s triple down the other – defense had laid the foundation for the Monegasques to go and grab the win.
Speaking to EuroLeague TV afterward, Monaco boss Sasa Obradovic was pleased with his team’s ball movement after the break – the visitors finished with 12 assists, 10 of which came in the second half – and how his players had defended throughout the 40 minutes.
“It’s also about this, sharing the ball,” Coach Obradovic said. “We played offensively smarter. Defensively, we were consistent the whole game. That’s what gave them, a team that is great offensively, 60-something points. We did an amazing defensive job.
“I knew there were going to be two games [in Istanbul] and to attack the second one [Game 4] more. I was also preparing myself for this, changing the lineups a bit, and that gave us a lot of benefits. We completely deserved this win.”
On a night when James was expected to add to his MVP case with a starring performance, it was Monaco’s defensive stars who really shined. The likes of Diallo, Blossomgame and Ouattara may pass the casual fan by, but they are the glue that holds the team together and the ones who can swing a game. Or, in this case, maybe even swing a series.