This Barça boasts of being a team that plays at full speed, a Police and Robbers In every rule, a catch me if you can. Ball that puts into play, run that hits you. And putting up with his type, his physique, is not easy, much less the score. But Bayern, very German, diesel bodywork with built-in turbo, raised the stakes, an outrage of muses, a basketball affront. More than anything because he added a wrist to the equation of the legs, a diamond one from the perimeter – with Obst and his 10 triples in front – that ended up making Barça choke. Defeat that explains that the Blaugrana are in a slump, since it suggested a lot but for some time now has offered little.
Although both teams appeared in tuxedos, with a cheerful and hypersonic game, in addition to delicious baskets – a reverse of Brooker or also a alley oop his own, a mid-range shot from Vesely, a dance under Parker’s basket… – Bayern soon explained that they had their hands ready, comfortable with the outside shot in the face of the lukewarm Barça defense. One, two, three… and up to six triples the German team counted to take the first quarter (28-21), Obst and Weiler-Babb as snipers to the dismay of a Barça that claimed its Chicho Earthquake particular. But Punter, who is not sweet this month, did not get his way. A lot of shooting and little success, more noise than nothing. A defect that is too grotesque for the Pañarroya team, which, without the attacking inspiration of its mainstay, due to the free will that it allows and encourages, remains halfway.
That’s where Bayern tried to break him in the second act, led by Edwards (explosive lower body and dancer’s waist) and again expressive from the periphery, tenacious Obst and Weiler-Babb with their darts on the target. Parker, always Parker, tried to respond with his basketball that was as plastic as it was effective, accompanied by the points of Willy Hernangómez. But it was little for a Bayern that played at a gallop, generous in retreat and happy in transitions, comfortable with three-pointers -9 of 18 in the first half-, a Samson with the orange ball (48-38) that twisted a rival at the intermission. And Obst was missing.
“We have to improve our defense and especially in our three-point shots,” Peñarroya summed up laconically and with a sober look before the ball bounced again. But there was no possible relief for Obst, who grabbed the ball, propelled himself with his legs and made three more shots from the perimeter. The most indigestible blows for Barça, who still couldn’t find Punter and who ended up understanding that all the balls had to pass through the hands of Parker, the only one with the regulated sight glass, capable of making the complicated simple, nine points in a row . But you can’t beat the world, and even less so if Obst is on your side, as he added three more triples to reach ten – his personal record was seven, in a duel last year – to reach the epilogue with everything done.
Los 11 chofs Obst’s 16 attempts surpassed the Euroleague record of Andrew Goudelock, who had 10 with Fenerbahçe in 2014 against Bayern (10 of 13), the same as Shane Larkin twice with Efes. Behind, with nine, Saulius Stombergas (in 2001 with Tau), Thomas Kelati (in 2009 with Unicaja) and Mirza Teletovic (in 2010 with Caja Laboral). It was also Bayern’s best record with 20 triples in a duel, behind, however, Fenerbahçe’s 24 from the previous season against Valencia Basket. A festival from the outskirts that left Barcelona groggy, already with their shoulders drooping in the last quarter, when Edwards put his finger on the sore spot. So much so that the Blaugrana fell by 22 points, the worst defeat of the season that was reminiscent of times past. Those who left the team blank, those who seemed forgotten. Blame, above all, of Obst.
