The speed of Paris and the individualities of TJ Shorts were able to defeat Barça (87-103), for a day that was dilapidated in defense and construction, lacking ideas in attack, far from the version of the Euroleague leader that lost this Friday at the hands of Fenerbahçe. Curiously, the Barça team had a debutant in the competition (he arrived after winning the Eurocup the previous year) but not a Cinderellabecause he fights for positions play-offa rival who can boast of running more than anyone else and expressing himself with taste and skill from the periphery – to the point that he set the record for most shots (52) in a Euroleague match against Alba Berlin -, electric and transitions fast. A very NBA basketball that is directed from the bench by someone known in the ACB as Tiago Splitter, former player of Baskonia, Basket Bilbao and Tau before making the Americas. And with that and TJ Shorts, in addition to the triples from Hifi and Lo, it was enough to derail Barça.
The Barça team began with a drowsiness, since from the initial missed jump they went on to a dunk against that became three in no time, in addition to a couple of layups, clay defense and the rival like Pedro for his house and to the kitchen. A mess that added several losses and one-eyed throws; a start that inflated Peñarroya’s veins because two of the hallmarks it aims for were missing: intensity in the retreat and in the defensive phase, and quick transitions with diligent and precise passes. And neither one nor the other. Satoransky, who showed character, laid the first stone to rebel, and Parra, who with each match is more mature and sharper – the coach rewarded him with the starting quintet -, supported him. But there was no tutía because it was the quarter of butter hands and crooked passes, since they counted up to seven losses. So Paris, driven by the electric and fabulous TJ Shorts, discredited the attempt, able to close the prologue with a comfortable lead (18-31).
Barça did not seem to revive, lost in attack and punished in defense. But that was precisely what activated the Barça turbo button, since a technique signaled to Abrines and a personal one by Satoransky in attack made the fans explode — “How bad you are, referee, how bad you are!” he intoned. the pavilion—and turned on the players. Punter, generous in his construction, stuck his paw out of the door, Satoransky continued to insist that the team did not fall apart and Parker, who last year seemed to be on the hardwood as if at a barbecue in Massachusetts and who now dignifies his basketball of carats with a sharp competitiveness, he endorsed two triples followed by as many from Abrines. With everyone cheered on by the Palau, who was so loud, a cocktail was created that finally made Paris indigestible, already behind by the time they reached the intermission (48-45). It was a mirage.
Outstanding for his speed and intelligence with the orange ball in his hands, TJ Shorts – an American who plays for North Macedonia – continued his work after the break, a devil of feints, assists and points, a point guard who was almost worth five. But faced with the rival individuality, Barça tried to expand on the team. Now Juan Núñez with some layups and a three-pointer, now Vesely with his famous mid-range shot, now Parra from the periphery, now Hernangómez to claim his role on the team and under the rim… Not enough, in any case, to blur a opponent who never tired of running, Shorts in command and Hifi and Lo as true snipers from the outskirts. Chof, Chof, Chofand to the last chapter with everything to decide (70-73).
It happened then that Barça paled there, a short circuit at a bad time, again without ideas in attack, unable to discount rivals in penetrations or to arm their arms in time, failure after failure, slap after slap. As a distributor, of course, TJ Shorts, who finished with 24 points, excellently accompanied by the outside pitchers, Ward, Outtara, Hifi and Lo. A lot of trouble for Barça, who only found arguments with Parker because Punter didn’t have the day. And because, of course, no one could catch TJ Shorts.
