The two-time NBA champion believes that Vitaly Stepanovsky needs to strengthen his coaching staff
Ukrainian ex-basketball player, two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers, Stanislav Medvedenko commented on the performance Ukrainian national team in qualification for EuroBasket 2025.
“We lost our games. If the first game was still in doubt, then we had to take the other one. Everything was going in our favor, but many mistakes were made. In particular, coaching ones. That’s why we lost, and now there are big problems with qualifying for EuroBasket. It’s probably 90 percent that we won’t get there. Although there are chances, we need to play until the end.”
“There were problems with replacements. And, as it seemed to me, somewhere in the fourth quarter the coach lost control of the game – we literally shot up to minus 15 out of the blue.”
“I believe that a coach, if he cannot completely control the course of the game, needs to be strengthened by experienced assistants. Because his first assistant is inexperienced and has no experience of independent work at all. Another assistant, as far as I know, works only with children, and also has no experience working with professional teams. But the point is that the result is needed here and now.”
“That’s one of the problems. Also, the problem is that the national team players performing at a high level are Sanon, Bobrov, Pustovoy and Kovlyar, who play in the Champions League, ULEB and the like. There are stable minutes in these clubs. That’s all. Other guys play in minor championships or championships that are not even listed in Europe.”
“There are two options at this stage. Let this coach be improved so that he can be strengthened by worthy assistants with experience. Because it will be incomprehensible to me if this cycle is finalized with the same assistants. I explained why above. Another option is to change the coach, look for an experienced one, but with a future. I don’t think it would be advisable to appoint a specialist from Ukraine. Is it possible to do such a combination as to install some experienced Ukrainian coach and strengthen him with an experienced foreigner, if there are no funds.”
“But I would let the current coach improve, whom I would strengthen with other assistants. Assistants who told him at critical moments when to stop the team, take a time out or adjust tactics. But this is my sofa vision.”
Ukraine continues to remain an outsider in its Quartet A in qualifying for EuroBasket 2025 – it lost all four matches. On November 23 and 25, Stepanovsky’s team lost twice to Israel (73:86 and 75:88). In February, the blue-yellows lost away to Slovenia (73:87), and then lost to Portugal (77:79).
Ukraine’s chances of qualifying for EuroBasket 2025 have dropped to theoretical. Israel and Portugal each have two victories after four rounds, while Slovenia is in the lead with three victories to its credit. Three of the four best quartet teams will advance further.
The Ukrainian team has two final games left to qualify, which will take place next year. On February 20 there will be a match with Slovenia, and on February 23 – with Portugal.
Source: Sportarena
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