EuroLeague player Elijah Bryant documents his pre-game routine before a playoff-deciding matchup, covering his recovery work, film study, and mental approach to the passionate Zalgiris Kaunas crowd. Anadolu Efes clinches a quarter-final berth with Bryant hitting key shots, setting up a playoff run that could lead to facing the defending champs.
Playoffs or play-ins? It all comes down to this game. We battled back, winning the last 7 games straight in some of the most difficult stadiums to win in. The loudest fans in Europe, Partizan, Red Star, and now Zagiris. But we know we have to win this game. The road to the playoffs is over. This is the road to Pana. It's the day before our last crucial regular season game against Salgueiras. I was able to get a good rest in my own bed, a proper breakfast in my own home, and now I'm getting ready to head to shootaround with the team. I have to bring all my stuff to the gym because after we'll all head to the hotel where me and the team will stay until game time tomorrow. This allows us to lock in and finalize our game prep together as a team. Before I step foot on the court, I'm doing my mobility and stretching routine to activate my muscles. Sometimes it can feel a bit tedious and I just want to shoot, but this is an important habit to minimize the risk of injuries and prime the body for practice so I can get the most out of it. As always, I'll link a version of my mobility routine in the comments. Zalgiris may not be able to move on to the playoffs with this win, but they are 100% fighting with everything. They knocked Partizan out last round, and I'm sure they would love to end their season with a win against us. But we are also fighting with everything we got to ensure we get a locked-in playoff spot against Pana. We split 1-1 against Pana in the regular season, and having played for Audemars, we know more or less what to expect in a playoffs matchup. While they are a powerhouse with Nunn winning the MVP, We want the chance to prove ourselves against them in the next round. After shootaround, I get into the ice bath, we'll have a team lunch, and I'll head to my hotel room to chill, watch film, and eventually get a nap in. So I'm just watching our last game we played in Zagiris, and they literally destroyed us that game. But looking back and watching how passionate the fans are, as a player, you respect that. And you even respect it more when they're respectful fans. You have some fans where little kids are flicking you off and doing unnecessary stuff, but these fans are just loud and cheering for their team. They did this one thing, it's like, and the fans are so loud. Like, next time I'm gonna bring one of those things that you can measure the noise. Like, it's one of the loudest places to play in your league by far. And another reason that they should always play at Europe's top level is because they respect the players. They put on a great basketball product. And what I mean when I say when they respect the players is that there was a season a few years ago, they had lost like 8 games in a row. And I remember the fans staying after to cheer them on and encourage them. And being a basketball player, sometimes fans forget that we're humans too, and wins and losses shouldn't determine how you treat a human. So I grew a lot of respect for their fan base, and I hope you grew a lot of respect for their fan base seeing that show human-to-human respect. Color. I just want to say this before I forget, and that's one of the hardest things to comprehend and do when you're trying to manifest something into your life, is not letting those emotions take over. When I missed my first 4 shots, I missed— you know what I mean? Yeah, because I wouldn't have made that crucial bucket at the end. I wouldn't have ahead, you know what I mean? Yeah. And not every game I'm going to go out there and score 30, you know what I mean? But it's like being able to match my emotions to the reality that I know I'm going to is the key. Things getting much smoother, my love. With my little bro in town, I wanted him to get the opportunity to join me for a shooting practice at our facility. During the summer, Kai and I do a lot of workouts and practice together, and it's been a great experience to see his game and talent grow. He'll be heading to college next year to continue his basketball journey, so make sure to watch out for for another Bryant on the basketball court soon. We got young Demon in the cut. Young Demon. That wraps up the days before game day, and honestly, I didn't film much during game day, so let's get right into it. It's game time.
Anadoglu Efes will be in the quarterfinals with a win tonight. If they lose tonight, they will have to go through the play-in process. Ball up, and here we go. Dozier, larger Servetus, he fades away and hits. Thompson teeing up an alley-oop. How about that? As Dacus drives inside, high off the glass and in. Nowhere to go, but Farai outside the arc. Bryant pulls up from the free throw line and rattles that one through. Perfect 4 of 4 from the field. As the deep 3, Francisco, that goes down. Mitchell with only 3 on the shot clock. That's a long 2-point attempt, it goes in. Larkin gets to his spot and hits for 3. Making a little noise here as Larkin looking to penetrate and settles for the bank shot, which rattles down. Pull-up jumper in. He spots a gap, fakes and Dishes to Dunston. He is able to wrap the ball down. Francisco again fires for 3. Got it!
It is—
route to the hoop here. Up and in and 1 for Servides. Francisco to Servides. Dunston all alone inside to tie the game. It's out again. Loses the ball. Big tangle, it's won by Efes. And Nwora with a huge dunk. Bryant from the baseline, he hits to put Efes up by 8. Efes into the EuroLeague quarterfinals.
Next stop, Athens.
