Naples defeated at Paladozza, Alessandro Magro explains what to start from
The new course of Napoli Basketball, with Matt Rizzetta owning the club and Alessandro Magro coaching, began with a loss for the Parthenopeans on the Paladozza parquet against Virtus Bologna, a 105-88 that came despite Simms’ 23 points, Flagg’s 18 and Croswell’s 16. On the sidelines, Alessandro Magro gave his explanation of the evening’s performance.
“It was a baptism of fire – he said -, we knew the game would be complicated from a physical and technical point of view, we don’t discover the quality that Bologna, even with the new roster, has shown in the Supercup and Euroleague. We started with some reverential fear, which may well be there, we broke the ice”.
“To my players– said the former coach of, among others, Brescia, the National Under-20 Team and BC Wolves– I said there are many things to improve on, from a defensive standpoint where we conceded too many easy baskets, but I think this team has something to bother as an ‘underdog’ because it is not easy to come to Paladozza and shoot 68 percent from two points, dishing out 19 assists against Bologna”.
“The substantial difference was definitely in three-point shooting, and we theoretically built a team with three-point shooting in its weapons. We can and should handle a night with a bad three-point percentage, but not a night where we lack defensive and offensive consistency, we didn’t do that for the full 40 minutes and that’s something to build on. We have a lot more work to do but I believe so much in my players and starting with a ‘slap’ could also be an advantage. We stay humble, with our feet on the ground, continuing to work. I love my players and I believe this team can do well” Magro concluded.
