The excursion to Granada It was optimal and placid for Unicaja. The team from Malaga offered a basketball exhibition (69-101) on the parquet of the Sport’s palace Granada, from where you can see Sierra Nevada. That is the limit of this splendid typesetting team, which is already historic but could be legendary. If anyone could think that the head was in Murcia, logical distraction due to the succulent prize and the enveloping atmosphere, to go to the pepper capital you had to go through the Alhambra. And there the team from Malaga left its mark, already close to the cup levels in spark, energy and basketball with a recital for the annals. The Malaga fans, up to almost a thousand scattered throughout the pavilion, enjoyed and cheered their baskets with moments in which it seemed that they were playing in the Carpena. All in an atmosphere of camaraderie, as basketball should be understood, between two sister and neighboring hobbies at an Andalusian basketball party.
The first half was gorgeous. It is another basketball rhythm at which the Malaga team circulates, approaching its best version at another key moment of the season. The admirable painting of Pablo Pin, who is spending a season optimizing budget and overcoming several serious injuries, suffered to contain transitions and counterattacks when there was a rebound. It is true that the Nasrids had no aim on the triple (2/13 at halftime), but the speed of Unicaja’s legs and ball often led to error. A devastating fact at rest. Unicaja had made 19 field goals (10 from two and nine from three-pointers) and 16 of them (eight and eight) had come after assists. The ball was excellently shared and eight of the 11 players had given a basket pass.
The difference was growing exponentially and only the free throws prevented an even bigger gap. A basket by Kravish at the buzzer in the fourth (14-20) put a six point difference. But Unicaja had one more gear on top. Started at a great pace in the second quarter and 0-10 in the partial after two plus one of Djedovic and Ejim (both missing the additional) and triples of Carter and Kalinoski (16-30). There was still Will Thomas to come out. The rotation that pampers Ibon Navarro heven extremes that are hardly perceptible from outside the team is endless despite the fact that the injury to Alberto Diaz reduction in an essential piece in the gear. Granada did not put Carter in extreme difficulty and surely in Murcia it will be a different story, but the one of Mississippi has character. But the physical level of the UCAM will be higher and you have to be prepared for it.
With Perry in command (seven assists at halftime), a Grandfather tremendous defensively, throwing counters that Granada could not stop more than a few excellent minutes from Kalinoski in the shot (and everything around), Unicaja already commanded after 20 minutes by 29-50. If there was any doubt of relaxation, the Malaga squad came out of the locker room like a buffalo to settle the game in the blink of an eye. Five minutes later, he was already in command with a 35-70, doubling the score after some beastly minutes, now with Carter also as a point guard. Counterattacks without dribbling the ball, moments of inspiration from Kravish and minutes already to Mario Saint-Supery to unload efforts in the position and to continue accumulating experience in the elite. A steal and a triple in the next play was the letter of introduction for the young corner player, who will soon be 17 years old and who is also teaching things in the elite.
The game was more than seen to be decided at the end of the third quarter, which ended with a triple by Carter (41-82). In the final 10 minutes, rotate and avoid injury. On Wednesday there is a game that gives way to a Final Four Europe and it will be a different story from the fraternal afternoon lived in the incomparable Granada, where Unicaja rocked basketball.
