Latest on Izundu and Motley! Navarro Fires Back: 'Did You Know I Studied Chemistry?'

The hardest part is hitting rock bottom and finding a way out, especially when everything seems black and white with no clear middle ground. If we're not smart enough to realize there is still a long road ahead of us, we'll make a huge mistake. We need to stay focused on what we did well and what we did poorly. Fixing the mistakes from the last game is crucial. When facing a team that demands so much focus and effort, that is always the toughest challenge.

Defensively, we were quite solid in Lyon. However, tomorrow is going to be extremely tough. Our defensive communication was very poor in the first half, plagued by terrible lapses in concentration. That is something we will be tested on 40 to 45 times tomorrow. Every single time you score or miss, they look to run. If you lose focus for even a second of those 24 seconds on offense or defense, you'll make a mistake—and they are an exceptional team at punishing errors.

Ah, expectations... It's always about expectations. The expectations everyone builds up when you play three consecutive home games. And when it feels like you aren't meeting those expectations, suddenly everything is terrible. I can't control external expectations. What I can control are our own expectations, our focus, our energy, and our performance. That has to be our sole focus. If we think that just because we won three straight games and Paris is coming to town it's going to be an easy night—that is a massive mistake. They are consistently one of the highest-scoring teams, one of the most efficient per possession, and one of the best offensive rebounding squads in the league. We just came off a game against a team conceding 32 to 33 points per 10 possessions; these guys average 36, and they're coming off a match where they allowed 40. This demands immense concentration and intensity. If we assume things will just fall into place, we are setting ourselves up for failure. What I can tell the fans is that this will be a very long game. You never have a game won or lost against Paris, because with their relentless tempo and fast-paced style, the entire game can turn in a single minute. We saw that happen yesterday. So, it will be a long battle.

"No, he only did some light shooting. Nothing more. But he is improving."

"He didn't look bad. Of course, anyone who steps onto the court needs to be at 100%. Especially Ebuka, who is a high-energy player. If he's not at 100%, he won't be in the squad."

"They've shown a lot of character over the last few games. Call it character, call it mental toughness, call it whatever you like. Especially in the second half, there were plenty of moments that could have knocked you down and kept you on the floor, thinking, 'That's enough.' But the team kept believing in what we do. Despite all the blows, we stayed out there and fought until the end. Fortunately, we pulled through. That is probably what makes me proudest and brings me the most satisfaction. However, that must be backed up with better execution, especially in the first half, along with sharper timing and precision."

"Did you know that I studied chemistry? It is built on foundations, values, and how deeply you respect those values in everything you do. Not just on the court, but off it as well—in how you interact with the media, the fans, inside the locker room, over lunch, on the bus, at dinner, or at the airport. Values define a team both on and off the hardwood. Everything must rest on those principles. They must be your bible—whatever you do, you must be guided by them. That is precisely the philosophy we have in our team."