Dejan Radonjić: "In the last 10 minutes offensively it was not good enough"
— Lokomotiv played today better than us, they deserved to win. It was clear from the beginning that will be a tough game. In the first half there were so many mistakes offensively and defensively, we tried to be in the game but after the second half, in the last 10 minutes offensively it was not good enough to be close to win this game. With 18 turnovers, of course, and 20 points after that. It's too much for this level.
— Today the team seemed to rely heavily on three-point shots. But when they weren’t falling, why did it feel like no one was really trying to attack the paint?
— So, we tried to play under the basket also a few times, especially in the last quarter, Šamanić did, but it was not good enough and then we tried to do something else. Okay, in the end, when there were three point shots, basically it's not that much, but as I said, we didn't play well offensively the last ten minutes. So, we need to improve our game for sure.
— A question about the offense in the fourth quarter. You mentioned that many things didn’t work because of your own mistakes, but could Zenit’s struggles late in the game also be linked to Lokomotiv’s interior defense and the way they protected the paint?
— Look, of course, as I said in the beginning, they played better than us in this game. We knew it would be a tough game with so many turnovers and easy baskets after that. What we did with confidence, we were out at that moment. We tried to be in the game and in the end, the last 10 minutes, it was not good offensively.
Anyway, what I would like to say also is, what was clear after the game, it was for me, before the game, we put two new players in the roster to play with several, or maybe less, practices with the team and with one or two games, so two important players were out for this game. So for this level of the game, this was honestly too much for us.
— Today Martiuk didn’t play. Is he injured?
— He is not injured. It was my decision.
— How do you rate the adaptation of Juzang to European basketball?
— In a few days with a team and a few practices, some minutes in first game. This is too early for him to adopt. He needs time and all of us, we need to do everything for him to be ready to give us what we need from his side. But it’s clear that he is not still on his level.
— Zenit had an impressive winning streak under your leadership. This game against Loko was a serious test. Despite the result, did the opponent meet your expectations, and what would be your main takeaway from this game?
— First of all, as I said, they play a really good game. Loko is a good team. Of course we need to analyse this game, and my first impression is, you know, when I see all the players on the court together, when we're ready for the practice all together, then I think we can use some things from this game.
