Barça becomes great against Maccabi

Euroleague working day 33

Barça

maccabi

The clock counted down the seconds as Barça wanted, because with 89-89 and the ball in their hands, the team would push as hard as possible and then defend Maccabi's right to reply. Laprovittola caught it, calmly, dress me slowly because I'm in a hurry, until suddenly he rose to shoot a triple from eight meters, a small madness, a great genius. Three-pointer that dismantled the rival and the Blaugrana shrugged, that's how I did it, 5 seconds to finish the duel. Baldwin, full of energy during the night, missed the most important shot and Barça celebrated a very restorative victory, as they were required to win so as not to have to look in the rearview mirror, so as not to lose their privileged position in the Euroleague. It was a hard-fought victory, with moments of inspiration, especially from the three-point line by Abrines and Parker, also by Laprovittola, of course; in addition to a celebration that allows the Barça team to play the last day – a visit to Asvel, penultimate classified – depending on itself, even though it has the encouragement of Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and Fenerbahçe on its neck.

The qualifying needs initially shrank their arms, a temporary shivering of everyone, perhaps with the exception of a triple by Laprovittola and a dunk by Nebo in the other basket that tried without success to revive the duel. The defenses prevailed over the attacks; and while Maccabi could not distill its electric game under the baton of the short ones -Lorenzo Brown and Baldwin-; Barça couldn't find the ramp to the hoop nor could it put on the jumpsuit that suits it so well, the one with the hypersonic transitions. Little was known about Satoransky and nothing about Vesely, thus losing the czech connection, so Grimau turned to look at the bench, to claim the other symbiosis, the one that grows so much in the last matches, in which Ricky Rubio plays and makes people play so that Willy Hernangómez puts the finishing touch. Said and done because first Bud Spencer He defined himself under the rim, with his own bodies and pivots; and then because Terence Hill He assisted Kalinic and then stole a ball and assisted Da Silva again. The duo worked like a movie. It didn't last long though.

It turned out that DiBartolomeo and Webb called for the ball and the flashes from the outskirts, a chof after another to twist Barça, well seasoned by the excellent work of Rivero under the hoop, who was so fond of measuring himself against the different tall Barça players, because perhaps because of genetics, he moved his Cuban waist to discount rivals and score without remission, scarecrow Vesely because he moved his arms and little else, unable to stop him. With 10 down (25-35), the Palau was bustling and shouting, always effervescent in delicate moments, usual food for a team that does not have much confidence or faith. Laprovittola then appeared to put order and points, but above all an Abrines who expressed himself from the Conchinchinathree (of three) triples so that the world was Barça again at the interval (44-43).

The return to the hardwood brought with it Vesely, finally incisive on the rebound and winner in his duels, Czech Airlines for his jumps and flights, for arriving on time. Six running points. A growth spurt that Brown and Baldwin, welcome too, knew how to control. But not so for Jabary Parker, who, amid shouts from the pavilion in favor of Palestine because of the war conflict with Israel – “No to genocide! andPalestinian Freedom!“, they repeated -, he appeared out of nowhere to receive the ball, to jump and bend his wrist, to make three three-pointers in a row. The fourth missed. Hernangómez joined the party, who is the cookie Monster When he receives the ball, he has countless points in his hands. 70-63 when reaching the last quarter, Palau smile.

It happened then that the team broke down at times, Ricky being out of adjustment with his basketball. brilli-brilli and in tails, as he lost several balls that gave wings to a rival who did not lower his arms, a contagious illness as Kalinic and Hernangómez confirmed, a penalty that was punished by the sniper DiBartolomeo (75-76) and above all by a boiling Baldwin, all time he turned any stock into gold. Barça, however, did not sink but rather brought out that character that is so often missed, and found a good ointment in Vesely. Abrines put the ointment with an energetic triple (87-85) and Laprovittola responded with the best marramiau to Baldwin, with a triple that was well worth a few playoffs with the court factor in favor. Or almost. Asvel remains, a team that is in the catacombs, although this Thursday they beat a collapsed Valencia (69-98) that is almost ruled out in Europe, to the point that a victory for Efes or Partizan would be enough.

You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes in Facebook and xor sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.