The buzz from the Panathinaikos win lasted exactly one practice. Coach Laso, a master at preventing any hint of complacency, was on them from the first whistle. The next opponent was AS Monaco, a team built with a different philosophy entirely: NBA excess. Led by the explosive scoring of former All-Star Mike James and bolstered by other ex-NBA talent, they were the antithesis of Real Madrid's surgical, system-based approach. They were a highlight reel waiting to happen, a team that believed talent trumped tactics.
The scouting report was a testament to individual brilliance. Mike James: pull-up threes from the logo, impossible finishes at the rim. Jordan Loyd: a bulldog scorer who hunted mismatches. Their game was isolation, a series of one-on-one battles they were confident they could win.
