euroleague day 26
barca
zalgiris
Mirotic shoots a goal in European Cup match against Zalgiris Kaunas Alejandro Garcia (EFE)
With the calendar soon to demand as they face Olympiakos and Fenerbahçe at home next week to determine their immediate future in the Euroleague, Barcelona resolved the Zalgiris clash with unusual aplomb. No rush, no surprises, no twists in the script and most of all with the gazuza that Jasikevicius demanded because he had the defeat to this rival in Lithuania in his retinas. This was decided by Mirotic, the Barça superman, who managed to score 28 points in the game.
However, there was a somewhat bizarre situation at Palau, a nod to a duplication of what happened at the Camp Nou with Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League last year. Coincidentally, there were many Zalgiris fans in the pavilion, so early in the game the screams were deafening every time a Barça player stepped onto the free-throw line, just as Lithuanian points were celebrated with fervor. A sound with an echo, because for once there were no Dracs – the spirited Barca fans – present, probably because the football team faced Real Madrid in the Cup semifinals at the Bernabéu a few hours later. But the battle of the ballads did not last long, for there was scarcely a match; for as usually happens in the face of tangles and confusion, Mirotic, the best of Pistons, appeared the timely answer to the problem of the day.
The Montenegrin warned him of Barca’s first attack; Reception, jump and throw three from the corner, welcome basket. Undeterred, Zalgiris was driven by his fans and fought for the flag with rebounds and attacks as short as hypersonic. Leadership and points for all against a collapsing Barça on the retreat, with more fouls than necessary and the resultant snarling anger from Saras Jasikevicius, always boiling and dissatisfied. But Mirotic asked for the ball and the world turned rosy, or rather azulgrana. Treble, government in paint, firm wrist on free throws and a space with 12 points, finally that devastating version of the franchise player that the team missed in the cup loss to Unicaja also against Monaco in the last European meeting. He was joined by Vesely, who found himself increasingly in tune with the flow of the games, remembering again this player who had made more than a name for himself to reach the NBA or later scare with Fenerbahçe.
Even if this is repeated during the course because it was reversed for a reason last summer, the difference was noticed by the Barça wardrobe with the rotations reinforced by players from the second row. Sanli and young Nnaji with his power under the basket, Abrines with his recurring points and even Tobey, oddly active. Good recovery for Mirotic who went back on the pitch with a clean bite. Two attacks, two baskets and a breather for Barça as they reached the break with a 10-point difference (46-36).
The machine was already set in motion and for once Barça didn’t tremble or show any weaknesses, but pulled out the shredder. And the game ended to the relief of Jasikevicius and the discomfort of the green fans in the Palau, who ended up dancing to the rhythm of Barca chants as their team did to Barça. Credit to Satoransky, exceptional in the choice of shots and entrances to the basket – an alley-oop was marked for the video store -, also from Laprovittola in the direction of play – although he is still thicker than normal when looking at the basket – and of course Mirotic , the cap basketball player.
BARCELONA, 93 – ZALGIRIS KAUNAS, 74
Barcelona: Satoransky (12), Laprovittola (6), Kalinic (5), Mirotic (28) and Vesely (7) – starting at five -; Sanli (10), Abrines (5), Higgins (3), Tobey (5), Kuric (2), Jokubaitis (5) and Nnaji (5).
Zalgiris: Taylor (4), Hayes (8), Brazdeikis (15), Smits (6) and Ulanovas (7) – starting at five -; Giedraitis (0), Lekavicius (7), Birutis (12), Polonara (8), Dimsa (1) and Butkevicius (6).
Referee: Javor (Esl), Panther (Ale) and Kardum (Cro). No deleted.
Palau Blaugrana. 5,545 spectators.
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