Limoges CSP did the job this Sunday by beating Pau-Orthez at Beaublanc 85 to 75. Horace Spencer finished with the highest rating (17). Place at the international window before the reception of Strasbourg at the Palais des Sports for a Limoges team which is only one victory behind the Top 8.
The match: Limoges CSP played almost the entire match in front of
After being down 5-0 at the start of the game, Cancellieri’s players quickly took matters into their own hands. From the 1st quarter time, they accumulated 10 points in advance. The Palois came back but the Limougeauds accelerated again at the end of the 1st half to return to the locker room with a nice nest egg (49-34). A lead that they will have kept throughout the 2nd half, even when the Béarnais and their leader Justin Bibbins have made the effort to come back. To overcome the Elan, the CSP was able to count on all its players like an ultra precious Horace Spencer off the bench. As in Bourg, Kruize Pinkins also showed that he could be useful. Moreover, by scoring nearly 40 points in the racket, in particular thanks to the free throws of a very aggressive Massinburg for his return, the Limoges have shown that they could win against a good opponent, without abusing the shot. long distance.
The in-form player: Horace Spencer missed almost nothing
While things were going badly inside with two fairly quick fouls from incumbent pivot Grismay Paumier, his American replacement Horace Spencer did the job. With his usual energy, he picked up 7 rebounds including 3 offensive but also scored 11 points including some powerful dunks and stole two balls. Enough to finish with the biggest evaluation (+17) of his team. Quite simply at the height of the event.
The day without: Nicolas Lang suffered the Pau strategy
Watched like milk on fire by the opposing defense, the captain only scored 6 points at 3 out of 8 in shooting. And on the other side of the field, the Palois have targeted him on numerous offensives. Not the best defender in the championship, he gave a lot of fouls. To the point of having to leave his partners well before the end of the match. What is positive is that the team still managed to stay ahead and beat a direct competitor in the race for the playoffs.
Statistics: 36 points in the racket for Limoges
While Limoges CSP are known for their long-range threats, Cancellieri’s players performed very well in the racket on Sunday against Pau. Facing the athletic Pau duo of Chikoko and Ndiaye, Paumier contributed 9 points, Spencer 11 points and Kruize Pinkins scored 8 points. Without forgetting the points on free throws brought by a CJ Massinburg (18 points, 4 assists, 16 of evaluation) of return to the competition and whose aggressiveness towards the circle did good, like that besides of Demonte Harper who has often found the way to the opposing circle in penetration (15 points, 2 assists, 4 loss of ball, 9 of evaluation).
The declarations: Cancellieri has stepped aside in favor of the players
Massimo Cancellieri, coach of Limoges :”we played an incredible match. After 5 defeats, it’s not easy to play a match like the clasico. Tonight, I speak French because I respect the moment, the history of the clasico, the club and the culture of French basketball. But I would like to leave the scene to the players. After this period that we spent, the players deserve 100% of the victory.“
Hugo Invernizzi, interior of Limoges :”After 5 defeats, it’s never easy to have a match like that. We were expected. Although we haven’t been playing very well since the break, it was full. We were eagerly awaited and I think we reacted well. We set more pace. We recovered CJ Massinburg who is important for us because it is he who makes us a little dangerous on transitions. We moved the ball well. We were less static than the other games. And we put a commitment for 40 minutes on our defense. Everyone brought. When we were less well, we managed to be even more diligent or to make stops. This is what allowed us to stay ahead. Now it’s up to us to make the hits.”
As an aside: a rather special press conference
After the meeting, Limoges coach Massimo Cancellieri did not want to make long speeches. While two players were there by his side (Invernizzi and Paumier), he spoke to the press for the first time this season in the language of Molière. Not for long speeches or tactical analysis. Rather to congratulate his players before letting them take the media light on their own. As they say, the group lives well!
– Jerome Ostermann