Andrea Trinchieri: It was a very sweet evening

Here’s the press conference by Andrea Trinchieri after the victory against Barcelona in the EuroLeague opener:

“It was a very sweet evening,” Andrea Trinchieri began. “We didn’t play a perfect game, but we brought a lot of energy and defended really well. We fought for every ball, even diving to the floor to recover it. We missed a lot of open shots, but we never stopped playing, and we grabbed 13 offensive rebounds, which were crucial. This gave us confidence. It was a good win against a great team that has talented players like Punter, Laprovittola, Vesely, and Jabari Parker. It’s only the beginning. We won without shining, but it’s too early for that. I think our start was very solid.”

Speaking about Sylvain Francisco’s individual performance, Trinchieri said: “I believe basketball is a game of situations. You have to understand that every game is different. At that moment, Sylvain was the right choice. Today, Iggy also played very well, constantly driving to the basket. The crucial shots made by Sylvain and Iggy wouldn’t have been as important if we hadn’t played with such effort and defended so well. Birutis’ defense today was fantastic, as were Mitchell and Arnas, who played like five-star players. This win was a team effort. Everyone sees Sylvain’s big shots and Iggy’s points, but it was a collective victory.”

Trinchieri also praised his team’s defense: “We chose to play with many forwards, with physicality and big bodies in the second, third, and even in the point guard position with Tyrone Wallace. I think it worked. Limiting Punter to just seven shots was a good job. Even though Laprovittola had 8 assists, I think we defended well on him, as we did on Parker. These are players who can score in bunches at any moment.”

Finally, Trinchieri highlighted the importance of the crowd: “I know what it means to play at Zalgirio Arena; it was no surprise for me. I wanted our new players, those who haven’t played in the EuroLeague, to feel this atmosphere. It was a great atmosphere, and it pushed us even when we played a bad third quarter. The fans were with us, pushing us forward. The fans are an important factor, and I want them to continue to be.”

On Tyrone Wallace and the comparison to James Harden, Trinchieri joked: “Man, you play too much PlayStation. I don’t see that comparison. I saw Tyrone play very well in the first half and more mediocre in the second. He didn’t play in the preseason and has only played two official games, so ups and downs are normal.”

Regarding the next game and Bryant Dunston’s injury: “From what I’ve heard, everything should be fine. We have important games in three days, and we will need contributions from everyone, including Alen Smailagic, who will find his role.”