From sidelined to X-factors: these Monaco players resurrected by Spanoulis' coaching

Vassilis Spanoulis summed up his philosophy in one sentence: "Coaching is about feeling." "I don't exactly prepare who will play how many minutes, it depends on the match and often we start players that no one expects to play. I get criticized when it doesn't work, but it's a risk worth taking," continues "Kill Bill," who had thus relaunched Terry Tarpey at the start of the playoff series against Barcelona to take advantage of his boundless energy in defense. In addition to the former Le Mans player, a trio has also seen the door reopen in recent months.

By the end of 2024, who would have guessed that he would play a major role in the final four of the main event? Mouhammadou Jaiteh was on the back foot, a knee injury had made him fear a layoff of several months, a new coach was arriving (Spanoulis), soon followed by a world champion pivot, the German Daniel Theis .

Despite everything, the center was able to make himself indispensable, a trajectory that reached its peak Friday evening, where he recorded 11 points and 6 rebounds while Theis was invisible. "I take it as a reward for my work," he said. "I'm proud to have been able to contribute in a match of this caliber, against one of the most dominant pairs of center players in Europe. I hope we can follow in Limoges' footsteps in 1993 and write a new page of history."

The center remained on the bench Friday night against Olympiakos (78-68). With Monaco's defense quickly established, Vassilis Spanoulis didn't want to risk pitting Papagiannis, who isn't the most comfortable defensive player, against the Milutinov-Fall duo. But the Greek international knows better than anyone that the tide can turn.

As proof: his thunderous comeback in Game 5 of the quarter against Barcelona (17 points on 7/8 shooting) after two months of absence from the Euroleague. "It was instinct," confided "Kill Bill", the ASM coach, that evening. Rather disappointing this season (7.3 points and 3.4 rebounds), the former Fenerbahçe player has the profile of a luxury joker to provide an offensive electroshock tonight, if the Istanbulites impose their defense.

"I played well... No, sorry, I felt good." Asked to comment on his semi-final (2 points, 3 assists, 2 turnovers), the Greek-American point guard apologized for a small slip of the tongue. His production wasn't five-star, but after playoffs played in the stands and a season with few hitches (knees), Nick Calathes was revived at the most crucial moment of the season by Spanoulis.

The star signing of the summer, the club's tormentor in the 2024 quarterfinals with... Fenerbahçe, may not return to the level that allowed him to become the Euroleague's best passer. But against Olympiakos, except for two penetrations by Evan Fournier, which left him in the wind, he held up well and brought a little oxygen: "I'm ready for the final, my knees are fine, my body too!"