Jasikevičius Lands in Kaunas, Awaits Better Žalgiris: 'We Haven't Won Anything Yet'

Fenerbahçe's head coach, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, is urging caution despite his team's commanding 2-0 lead in the EuroLeague playoff series against Žalgiris. Speaking ahead of the crucial third game in Kaunas, Jasikevičius stressed that the series is far from over and that his team must remain focused and prepared for a difficult challenge on the road.

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We haven't done anything, we just protected our home advantage. Žalgiris will try to bring the series back to Istanbul. The result is good, but it means nothing. Everything happened in 48 hours, it can turn around very quickly.

Jasikevičius, who has experienced similar playoff situations before, highlighted the importance of protecting their home advantage and now shifting focus to securing the necessary road win. He acknowledged that Žalgiris, playing in front of their home crowd, will undoubtedly raise their game. The Lithuanian coach understands the passionate support Žalgiris receives and knows that the atmosphere in Kaunas will be intense, making it a true test for Fenerbahçe.

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All teams play better at home. I think the role players will feel better at home too. We need to come prepared. I think we are prepared. There will be some surprises, we will need to react to them. You think about what Žalgiris can do, what we can do. There is guesswork.

From a Lithuanian perspective, this series is particularly significant. Žalgiris is not just a basketball club; it's a national symbol, and their performance in the EuroLeague is followed with immense pride and passion. While Jasikevičius coaches Fenerbahçe, his roots are deeply intertwined with Lithuanian basketball, and his presence in such a high-stakes EuroLeague playoff matchup against a beloved Žalgiris team generates considerable local interest. The narrative is complex: a celebrated Lithuanian coach leading a foreign team against Lithuania's premier club, all while fighting for European glory. This adds an extra layer of drama and national sentiment to an already intense playoff battle.

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We are not preparing to let someone shoot and wait for them to miss – this is a professional player in the fifth best team in the EuroLeague.