Zalgiris Kaunas held an evening practice session on Wednesday ahead of the second game of the EuroLeague quarterfinal series against Fenerbahce Istanbul. Dustin Sleva, who struggled in the opening game, downplayed that performance, saying that every game is different and that he hopes to bounce back on Thursday.
– How was it trying to fall asleep after a game like that?
– It’s always difficult to fall asleep because you keep thinking about every possession and every situation. It helps a bit to rewatch the game and then go to sleep. It’s going to be a long series. They won the first game, but we’ll have a chance to respond on Thursday.
– What did you learn from Game 1?
– I picked up early fouls. I’ve played in the playoffs before and relied on that experience. This was my first time in the EuroLeague playoffs, so I trusted the experienced guys and talked with Nigel Williams-Goss. I expect things to be better – ups and downs are normal. You have to learn from yesterday and be better tomorrow.
– The first game was very physical.
– Yes, that’s Fenerbahce. I played against them last season. I believe we can be the team that matches their physicality and contact. We need to be the ones who set the tone.
– What happened in the moment with Bonzie Colson?
– It’s the playoffs, so emotions take over. Maybe I was too aggressive since we were already in the team foul situation – sometimes that happens. I hope the series is long, because then there will probably be even more emotional moments like that.
– Was there frustration on your part in that episode?
– I don’t think I did anything unusual. The ball was in the air, I was trying to box out, and I didn’t do anything malicious. Maybe Colson thought I was trying to hurt him, but it was just a bad foul because we were already over the limit.
– Did you see a cat in the locker room? There’s one in the arena now.
– There are cats everywhere here – I lived in Istanbul last year. There are cats and dogs all over the place. Luckily, they’re all pretty friendly.
– Does the current atmosphere remind you of last year’s Turkish League finals?
– Yes, very much so. EuroLeague playoffs are a different environment to play in. Last year with Beşiktaş we were bigger underdogs, but the atmosphere created by the fans feels very similar.
