In a crucial Game 2, the Roca Team crumbled on the Greek court after a promising start. Dominated in intensity, outclassed in all areas, and mentally shaken, the Monegasques succumbed to an unyielding Olympiakos, led by a blazing Sasha Vezenkov. A heavy defeat, marked by frustration, clumsiness, and resignation.
The start of the game hinted at a fierce battle— a true mano a mano, where every possession counted and every shot was contested. Tyler Dorsey was present on the Greek side, while Kevarius Hayes established himself as the Monegasque anchor in the paint. Monaco held on, responded, and existed.
But very quickly, one man changed the pace of the game: Sasha Vezenkov. Brazenly successful, clinical in his actions, he chained baskets with disconcerting ease. Outside shooting, off-the-ball play, finishing near the hoop: he did it all. Thirteen points in one quarter, almost flawlessly. Monaco retreats, absorbs, bends… and eventually breaks.
The first cracks appeared with mistakes from Juan Begarin. Poor decisions, turnovers, haste: Olympiakos didn’t ask for more. Every mistake was immediately punished. The gap grew, slowly but surely. Then Evan Fournier began his offensive work, bringing cohesion and accuracy. On the other side, Mike James tried to keep the ship afloat, alternating between creation and taking charge, but it was not enough.
Then came the turning point. The Monegasques no longer responded. The offense stagnated, the systems disappeared, and shots became forced. On defense, the impact was missing, help was late, and rotations were non-existent. Even on good defensive sequences, the Greeks hit impossible shots, driving the nail in deeper. The Monegasque bench became agitated, the coach attempted to cut the game short with a timeout… but nothing worked.
The gap swelled dramatically: ten points, then 12, then 16. And the feeling that the match completely slipped away. The Roca Team couldn’t score: only six points in eight long minutes. A terrible drought at this level. Meanwhile, Thomas Walkup punished from long range, again and again. Every shot was a stab in the heart.
The frustration peaked. Alpha Diallo, Mike James, Jared Blossomgame shot three-pointers with no success. Possessions became sterile, disordered. The gap exploded: +28 for Olympiakos. And then the defining image of the evening: Mike James, out of himself, snapped. Intense protests, insults towards the referees… immediate ejection. The Monegasque leader left the court, a symbol of a team that lost its nerves as well as the match.
The downfall continues after the break
The second half was nothing but a long sigh. The intensity dropped, by a notch, perhaps more. Olympiakos no longer needed to press. The tempo slowed down, the plays were executed without urgency. The starters rested, the bench took over. The crowd savored, without tension, almost already looking forward to what’s next.
Monaco, on their side, seemed absent. No revolt, no prideful reaction, no series to restart any momentum. Just a team that suffered, stringing together possessions without conviction. The outside shots continued to evade them, the drives were poorly managed, and the defense remained porous. The match slowly drifted towards its end, without any real stakes.
Both teams then played with one idea in mind: Game 3. Olympiakos managed, Monaco endured. The gap remained massive, the outcome without doubt for a long time. Final score: (94-64)
This Game 2 leaves a brutal impression: that of a significant gap between the two teams, at least in this game. Monaco will need to completely reinvent themselves to hope to compete in this series. Because beyond the score, it was the impact, intensity, and collective mastery that were lacking.
And at this level, it’s unforgiving.
