Aíto García Reneses, coach of Basketball Girona, was right when he gave “a small percentage” of chances of victory to his team at the Buesa Arena on Friday. It is clear that they can lose against Cazoo Baskonia, one of the leading teams in the classification and at the same time the best attack in the competition. But this minimal percentage vanishes if you play as the Girona team did this afternoon in Vitoria. to them excessive losses (16), a hasty attack with no ideas is added to it, and a defense that has made water and given too many facilities. So many, what the locals have nailed 19 triples, with a superlative Men (21 points). The 95-68 explains it all. A difference that was already wide at halftime (55-23) and that the improvement of the third quarter, the only ray of light along with the performances by Marc Gasol and Fjellerup (16 points each), it has not served to diminish. Seventh defeat in nine games, alarms going off and this coming week’s clash against Breogán that gains even more importance.
In 40 minutes, Básquet Girona never had any options. Not one. Out of a decent third period, with a tighter defense and finally some clairvoyance from Quino Colom when directing, the overall performance has been disastrous. In Vitoria, against a rival that has excellent scorers, Aíto’s team gave too many facilities, they always ran behind the ball and when they had it, they never opted for calmness and patience . On the contrary, he has ventured to match the rhythm of his adversary, which has led him to commit suicide.
In a seen and not seen, Baskonia has been placed with a 25-5 in their favor. Horrible numbers in attack from Girona, who closed the first quarter with an alarming 2 of 8 triples. The losses, a constant, have climbed up to the tenth at halftime, when they were already losing by more than 30 points (55-23). Only Fjellerup used some judgment when attacking. On the other hand, it’s too late to forget Kameron Taylor, rushed and desperate, confused and overmatched. Kotsar, from the free-throw line, has placed the maximum advantage (57-23) before, finally, Básquet Girona deigned to play with ideas, raising the defensive tone and preventing the easy shots of their opponent. Baskonia has started to miss outside shots and the baskets in favor have started to arrive. The partial was from 0 to 14. A little hope, because even the differences have dropped from 20 points (62-43).
But this team has no continuity and has disappeared again, wiped off the map when the home team is back. men, Thompson and Howard have again found the basket outside, while Enoch put the force inside. So, impossible. No one was thinking about a comeback, but the fact is that they couldn’t even keep up the pace of the third period, so the game ended with almost a 30-point deficit. Aíto’s job of fear, that if he asks week after week that the key to competing is improvement, today it has become clear that the step, if it has been made, has been backwards.
