Not having Walter Tavares doesn't mean having the most destabilizing player outside of the NBA. And Real Madrid appear to be bleeding to death since the player blocking the skies in pavilions across Europe fell with an ankle injury. They suffered two embarrassing defeats within five days. The first on the field of UCAM Murcia (73-61) in the ACB league and the second this Friday in the Euroleague in the fiefdom of Monaco, which shook the continental champions (98-76) from the first minute.
Chus Mateo's team suffered a 12-0 defeat in the final seconds of Murcia and began this Euroleague day with another negative series, a 2-11 that did not bode well. Real Madrid conceded too many points and saw their lead extended without being able to do anything about it. He only parried one punch from Chacho Rodríguez. In just a few seconds, the point guard scored a triple, a two-point basket and forced a personal attack from Okobo. The reaction took exactly a few second hand movements. Monaco regained control and took advantage of Real Madrid's numerous defeats to increase their lead to twenty points (54-34).
It is not usual for the European champions to concede 56 points in half a game. But Real Madrid is a much more fragile team without Tavares (also without Sergio Llull), without the tower that is the pillar of its defense. This was also evident in the second half when the lead increased. Chus Mateo tried some substitutes who have maintained and even increased the pace of play all season, but not this time. Madrid were doomed to suffer their fifth defeat of the season (three in Europe and two in Spain) and their second in a row this year.
Chus Mateo urged his team to come into the game with a good feeling, and during a timeout when the score was already 90-64, he was heard saying that he already knew they wouldn't win the game but he wanted to make it. Good job in the last few minutes. . The Copa del Rey is only a month away and the coach cannot allow his team to lose the good feelings that have made them shine in all competitions. This defeat was the toughest of the season.
The game was much closer at La Fonteta, where Valencia Basket responded when things were looking their worst as EA7 Milan took a ten-point lead (46-56). They then went on a 13-0 run that allowed them to regain dominance on the scoreboard.
Álex Mumbrú's team strengthened its defense, which was very erratic in the first half, and managed to end a series of three consecutive defeats in the Euroleague by relying on the small details and the intangibles of Jaime Pradilla , who was fired with the shout of “MVP!” and strengthened his chances of reaching the playoffs with a victory (84-72), which also allowed him to defeat the rival that was right behind him in the standings.
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