Euroleague day 6
After the league defeat received against Unicaja, Barça faced the test of cotton against Anadolu Efes, a team in effervescence – they defeated Olympiacos and Milan in the last two European events – who had their measure taken, to the point that they They had won in seven of the last 10 matches, then a team feared by the orange ball world because they won two Euroleagues (2021 and 2022) with Ataman in charge. The same did not happen this time in Istanbul, where Barça explained that there is no negotiation with intensity, that they feel comfortable with the exchange of blows and that they can go from academic to street basketball in a flash.
As if to make people forget the very serious injury to Laprovittola, who will miss the season, Barça started from the periphery, three triples in a row (Abrines and two from Parker) with Juan Núñez as assistant. A machine gun that found continuity during the quarter, since they accumulated seven (Anderson, Metu and Punter). But the aim conflicted with the defensive exercise, pointed out once again by Willy Hernangómez, on whom the echo of his lack of continuity and performance once again reverberates, records that dispute his status as a star player. Territory for Bryant, protagonist in the absence of Larkin, and Thompson with his floating shots, which were enough to close the gap (26-29).
Anderson, too revved up, tried to take over, and was succeeded by the calm Metu, who once again showed that he has springs in his legs and music in his hands, the unexpected player who can’t find anyone to stop him. Five shots without running error, which were joined by Punter, who does not understand context or pressure. An insufficient show to silence a fanged rival driven by Smits and Oturu; scoring show (51-55).
It happened then that Barça improved in defensive transitions at the same time that Parker and Punter’s street basketball without corsets appeared – punctuated by Núñez’s academics – to open a gap, to desnort a complaining rival, to also get the coach’s smile Peñarroya, happy for the exchange of blows, for the basketball tackling and vertigo. Metu, of course, continued in his thirteenth, mile-long arms and ballet waist, infallible wrists. Too much for Efes, who capitulated in the third episode (66-76) to refer to the exciting epilogue.
With chaos installed, Anderson asked for his turn, another weapon that season a Barcelona team with the most complete squad and resources, players and styles that, if combined, can aspire to El Dorado. More than enough for the moment to twist Efes, its black beast – in addition to Madrid – in the last years, no matter how much Oturu resisted his fate. It was a night in which pirate basketball imposed its law, a night of growth for many (Núñez, Metu, Punter, Anderson) and, incidentally, confirmation, since the team continues to lead the Euroleague.
For its part, Real Madrid added its fifth straight defeat away from home against Olympiacos (79-69), where Vezenkov (21 points) chipped away at the white team’s irregular and stumbling basketball, expressed in the last quarter, when it only added 10 points. Baskonia did better, able to beat Milan (88-83), even though Mirotic started off in the most rebellious way, with five triples from six attempts and with 21 points in the duel. But the good work of Forrest (22), who exuded a strong personality, and Luwawu-Cabarrot (16) was enough to defeat the rival.
