Davoudi: our problem in the key moments is mental

Davoudi told reporters after the match: “It was a difficult game and we gave away the result in one of the quarters.” Golnoor had gone down 71–61 to Esteghlal Tehran in the third week of Iran's men's Basketball Premier League.

Esteghlal: four or five national-team players

According to him, Esteghlal used players in the second quarter of whom four or five are members of the national team. Davoudi also pointed to the opponent's foreign player and called Esteghlal's coaching staff experienced, especially Mehran Shahintab, whom he described as one of the best coaches in basketball.

The gap reached six points, then experience told

Golnoor's coach said his team gave everything: “Late in the game the deficit came down to six points, but Esteghlal's greater experience helped them in the end and we could not turn the result our way.”

Giving the young players their chance

On how long the team needs to reach the level it wants, he said he does not like to use being young as the only description of the team, but there are young players in the squad who need work: “We must give them time and be patient.”

According to Davoudi, two players who had seen little playing time in previous weeks had good performances and good statistical output in this game: “We are giving these players minutes and the chance to gain experience.”

The three-point percentage: a mental problem

Davoudi added that the more these players appear in games and the less fear they carry, the better the team will perform. According to him, when the team's three-point success rate in decisive moments falls to 15 or 20 percent, the team has a mental problem: “We have to work more with these players so that their mental readiness improves as well.”

He noted that some Golnoor players are going through their first Super League season and need more time and experience to reach the level required.

Patience until the second half of the season

Golnoor's coach asked the fans and the staff to be patient: “Both we and the fans must be patient so that we can build the team we want. I think that after the coming break, and even in the second half of the season, we can be a better team.”