Today, Madrid receives Perasovic’s Unics Kazán, Hezonja, the Browns and OJ Mayo, the revelation of the Euroleague who comes from beating Barça last Thursday (70-64). A duel at the WiZink Center (20:45, Dazn) scheduled for January 6 and that was postponed due to the positives in the Russian team (follow the match live on As.com). Unics defeated the whites on October 29 in the first leg (65-58) and, since then, Madrid has been on the rise: 21 wins in 23 games and leader of everything. Even more in the last month despite the coronavirus outbreak. To his good defensive and physical level, he has added less irregularity in attack while reinstating the long-term injured Randolph and Thompkins and the recently signed Deck (he will not play today or in the rest of the postponed ones because he was not registered when they were suspended). An indisputable upward path that does not hide that it has a big problem: Barça, a rival that has taken the measure, much superior in direct duels.
The only two defeats in the last 88 days came against the Catalans, on Sunday in the League (75-85) and on December 10 in the Euroleague (93-80). Those of Jasikevicius (8-3 in the Clásicos with the Lithuanian) they had control and rhythm and led by 12 and 14 points, respectively. Also in the Super Cup they lost in September, the comeback from Llull and Alocén, they reached a lead of 19. His defense suffocates Madrid and his individual players are more resolute, with Mirotic, but also with Laprovittola, great in the last two face-to-face (in Barcelona they believe more in him).
Madrid only poked its head at the bugle call, when it loaded with everything and ran (Alocén?). Jasikevicius has instilled his own to punish Tavares with Davies and Sanli (they attack open with their little shake and hurt him in the mismatches) and that they pressure the bases (Sergi Martínez over Heurtel or even 2×1 with Davies) and the line of three. Laso also squeezes Calathes, Higgins, Kuric… with Taylor and Hanga, but the gamers culés seem more unbalancing.
The coach spoke the other day of the “necessary rearmament” undertaken by the club after the serious problems of parts last year is unfinished. A rearmament, we add, unfinished, which must continue through the outside game, where Madrid has talent and physique, but no great star in full swing, of those who decide the Final Four: Micic, Clyburn, Doncic, De Colo, Rice, Spanoulis, Diamantidis, Navarro, Langdon, Papaloukas… to name most of the MVPs of the last three decades. In the squad there is no one in the Top-5 and probably not in the Top-10 either or even something beyond. bumped, su short most valued in the Euroleague (10.4 on average), he is 26th among outsiders.
The current Madrid is a great team; however, with what it gives him to beat almost everyone, it does not give him, at the moment, to beat Barça. The other great favorite to all.
