Tofas — CSKA, 12 September 2019

Tofas Bursa vs. CSKA: 85-87 OT (+2)

Tofas: Durmaz (3 + 4 as + 2 st + 4 pf), White (14 + 5 rb), Phillip (7 + 2 as + 2 st), Lojeski (13 + 5 rb + 3 as), Williams (18 + 15 rb + 2 as + 4 to + 5 pf) – start; Tanisan (0), Mustafa (2 + 2 st), Ermis (4 + 4 rb + 9 as + 3 to), Tuna (DNP), Mejia (16 + 4 rb + 3 as), David (DNP), Yasar (8 + 5 pf)…

CSKA: Bolomboy (8 + 4 rb + 5 pf), James (14 + 3 rb + 5 as + 3 to), Lopatin (2 + 2 as), Koufos (9 + 8 rb + 4 pf), Hilliard (21 + 3 rb) – start; Khomenko (DNP), Ukhov (1), Kochergin (8 + 2 bs), Strelnieks (2), Clyburn (18 + 11 rb + 3 as + 3 st), Hines (2 + 3 rb + 2 as + 4 pf), Baker (2 + 2 as)…

This is what we exactly need now in the preseason – to go through the situations. We started better, we had more stamina, but our turnovers on offense and defensive mistakes allowed the opponents to get open looks first of all, to run the open court and get easy baskets, second of all. The fact that they were better on the rebounds shows, what we have to work on. We have enough size and athleticism. We are not in our best shape, this was just our second game and the first on European level, because Tofas plays in the EuroCup. Still I like how we fought and found a way to win. Even though it was not a priority. The team was able to react both on defense and offense. Some of our guys provided big help off the bench. Kosta Koufos in overtime gave us a hook and couple of free throws. We have many new players who need to adjust, to understand how to play together, to realize that this is their team now. Some of the players are coming back after injuries like Janis Strelnieks, Ron Baker, Will Clyburn, Darrun Hilliard. We have to protect them but, on the other side, we need to let them feel each other, to start trusting each other.