Like a taste of the final, of no tomorrow, in the air, before going to Limoges. Tuesday evening, against the CSP, Le Mans could well play its final game of a season turned upside down in all directions. The MSB can extend its year of one, two or even three matches, in the event of qualification, for the possible Final 8. But which also remains suspended to the threat of a strike of the Elite players.
To put it simply, in a matter that remains hairy, if Le Mans wins tonight, the club finishes 6th or 7th depending on the opposing results, ie a European place. In case of defeat at the CSP, 32 combinations are possible. 16 would qualify the MSB, 8 would eliminate it and 8 more would depend on the extent of the defeat at Beaublanc. In short, as Elric Delord would say, “We haven’t planned anything. Because at the moment, we are not in the quarterfinals. First, we’ll take care of Limoges, then we’ll see. There’s no point in overthinking what’s next. “
A certain serenity
Faced with the CSP that the MSB beat in Antarès on January 15 (91-68), a strange atmosphere reigns. Like a cup match, where loss can stop it all. Yet warns Elric Delord, pressure point among the Tangos: “There is no more tension than that. When you’ve experienced everything we’ve been through since the start of the season… ” He stops for a few seconds. Then resume, “And even since the pre-season, with Williams Narace who arrives injured, then Ovie Soko who gets injured after two weeks, then the Covid cases at the start of the season, it gives you a certain serenity. I think the players have confidence in them. They know that when we give the maximum we have, whatever the conditions, we are always there. “
On the floor of Limoges, will perhaps evolve one last time, a tenacious MSB. “It hasn’t always been easy for them, but what I’m hoping is that if it’s the last time we’re playing together, they’re going to have a lot of fun doing it. “
Pride and privilege
Eïto, Bamforth, Soko, and all the others, “I am very proud of them, said the coach. I also feel privileged to have been able to train them this year. Because they are golden boys. And they’ve proven it all year round. Not just on a game. We have been in the field for eleven months. We had weeks and weeks of training without matches, then weeks and weeks of matches without training. They always reacted well to everything. Which explains my feeling. “
So Le Mans seriously prepared for its last game of the regular season. Identified its strengths, analyzed its weaknesses. « Limoges, specifies Delord, it’s a strong team where we are a little weaker, especially at the level of positions 5. They have three where we are a little helpless: Ovie and Iggy are absent, Darel is a 4/5 when Vitto and Williams are at post 4. There you have to be careful. “
But as often since the start of the season, the MSB has its arguments, ” our forces. We tried to minimize Holston (46 pts, against Dijon) and he sang the song to us. And on others, it worked. I want to say, the tactic will be to enter strong, continue strong and finish strong (laughs). Against Limoges, we will not be able to afford to have weak times. There will be some, but we will have to remain united. Because 40 minutes is a long time. “ But after eleven months together, the MSB is ready for one last dance. Before finally taking a breather, or putting it back in a bit. But that, we will not know until later.
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