After Pau and Strasbourg, the players of Massimo Cancellieri would like to chain a 3rd success in a row on the Portel floor this Saturday (6:30 p.m.) on the occasion of the 22nd day of the French Elite basketball championship. To succeed, we will have to be just as serious as in the last two games warns interior Hugo Invernizzi: “I think we have been very good in the last two games. We put a lot of intensity and rhythm against Strasbourg. We had a well-defined game plan. Here we have another one. We will have to stick to it as closely as possible because we know that over there, 5 minutes where we lower our vigilance a little, where we play a little less well, that can change the whole match so we will have to be very focused throughout the game. Try to put the rhythm as we know how to do. And don’t let them trust“.
It’s a bit of an atypical atmosphere.
We have seen it in recent years and in particular at the end of last season with a pitiful 2nd half for the Limougeauds. Letting Le Portel gain confidence and play on euphoria would be the worst thing. Especially in their Cauldron room where the atmosphere is always supercharged. “It’s a somewhat atypical atmosphere because it’s a very tight basketball hall. The public is very close so it’s a special atmosphere. We’re still used to playing when there’s noise, but it’s true that often, at the end of the match, you have the impression that there’s a bicycle pump in your brain blowing and you hear your heartbeat in your head because you had a headache the whole game. Often, that’s what hurts!” describes Hugo Invernizzi.
We gotta break their trust to win the game
It’s true that the Cauldron du Portel is a full house, the marching band, the public near the floor and other posters of naked women agitated behind the baskets to distract opponents on free throws. But this Saturday evening, it’s also the carnival match with a disguised and already excited public an hour before the match. Besides, what does Limoges coach Massimo Cancellieri expect? “I guess a big mess. Because of the atmosphere and their team which has behaved well for 6 games. They picked up a lot of players. They play with energy, they play better. It’s a different Portel team from the one we saw in Limoges. They are very confident. We have to break their trust to win the game. We can’t let them play as they want. Otherwise, we have no chance“says the Italian coach.
We are coming to a pivotal moment in the season.
The Abruzzo technician is also wary of his own team. When asked how things are going after the two victories against Pau and Strasbourg, here is his answer: “after those two wins, you can imagine. And that’s what scares me. Because the last time, after 4 wins, we were in a period where we were waiting for the next one by looking out the window from afar. So we put the pressure we need because we are coming to a pivotal moment in the season.“. Even if it is not played on this match of the 22nd day which is more outside, it is true that a success at Portel which has won half of its 10 games this season at home would only assert a little more the “playoffable” status of Limoges CSP.