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Barça takes off with great force in the ‘playoffs’ against Zalgiris

Nothing better to present a candidacy for the ‘final four‘ that a resounding victory like the one achieved this Wednesday by the Barça in front of Zalgiris Kaunas at the Palau (91-69) to start his quarterfinal playoff. The blaugranas’ favoritism on paper seemed evident before the match began, but the team Jasikevicius he was in charge of making it evident on the floor, which is where it matters, with an overwhelming superiority in the area and in the fight for the rebound, which will reinforce his confidence for Friday, in the second round of the tie.

Far from the irregularity that has marked a good part of his season, the best version of the Barça, the one of the last weeks: a team well equipped in defense, very physical, which closed the way to its basket and was able to control the two zones to impose the rhythm of the game. But, above all, the team’s leaders appeared, from Mirotic, Satoransky and Laprovittola to Sertac Sanli, who took over the leading role in the second half (17 points, 5 rebounds, PIR of 20) so that the Catalans took the first step towards Kaunas.

“The score can leave the impression that it was an easy game, but it was hard, although we prepared it well and now we have to continue in this line,” he assured. Sanli, who downplayed his role. “I only tried to help my teammates. Today it was me, another day will be another. The important thing is the team’s victory,” he remarked. “We scored in the important moments. We made good decisions and, in general, we played well. But it’s only the beginning. You have to rest and go for the second”, he said Jasikevicius.

Satoransky leadership

asserts Jasikevicius that Barça is a very difficult rival to overcome when Satoransky it is at a good level. And, after a forced acclimatization period, especially after his time in the NBA, the Czech point guard is agreeing with him. Intense, active, very vertical in many of his actions, the Barça team exudes confidence with Satoransky in command, especially when Laprovittola escorts him, and loses the ability to generate play with Jacobite on the track, because the Lithuanian point guard has not yet found his tone this season.

Barça propped up its starting options well, hooked on a Mirotic very effective in the first quarter and also SatoranskyBut above all to their defense, impenetrable for many minutes by the Zalgiris shooters, who only added three baskets in the first six minutes, and allowed the Barça team to open an already considerable gap in the first quarter (25-13).

Despite the rotations he tried Kazys Masvytis and the occasional appearances of Hayes and Ulanovashe Zalgiri He did not show too much punch, nor did he show alternatives to stop Barça’s attack, which was even able to extend its advantage during the break because they also joined Abrines and Sanli to the cause (48-31).

In this scenario of superiority, the Barça not only did he not let himself go (during the season it has been difficult for him to close the games), but he was able to close it with solvency using the bench players and preserving most of his starters for the second round on Friday. Mirotic he spent 17 minutes on the track, Vesely13. But Sanli emerged powerful with one of his best performances as a Barça player, the doll of Chicken also came to light and even Jacobite he was released with joy in attack to close a victory that boosted the confidence of the Barcelona fans.

2023-04-26 20:25:51
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