Mirotic, more threat than ever for Real Madrid

“Mirotic He is their leader, we have to try to limit his impact”. In the Real Madrid dressing room they are aware of what Barça’s main threat is for the classic that will be repeated this Friday in the Final Four. The Montenegrin’s talent is joined so many past affronts, so many accounts to settle and even the perennial morbidity of his white past.But on this occasion, all of that multiplies exponentially because it coincides with the weakness of the team of Chus MateoNone of the two ‘four’ will appear at the Zalgirio Arena, nor the sanctioned Gerschon Yabusele and the injured Gaby Deck.

Since Niko Mirotic decided that his NBA adventure was over and that he was heading back to Europe with Barça, his confrontations against Real Madrid, where he was formed, have had everything. Controversies, unpleasant insults on WiZink and, above all, unbalancing performances. In sports, it was always a problem, although his team did not always win. On everyone’s mind his thunderous display from a year ago at Stark Arena, another EuroLeague semifinal: 26 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. 39 PIR completely forgotten, as it was Madrid who took the win. “Not even with Deck and Yabusele was it easy,” Mateo has admitted these days who will have to go back to tactics to try to stop Barça’s main offensive resource, especially with the absence of Corey Higgins.

It was in the series against Partizan where the baggage of a coach accustomed in his career to looking for solutions in the shadows came to light. “We’ll do it however we can. We’re already used to making up for casualties. We’ll see what we can think of,” replied Chus Mateo, who will make his debut as first sword in the Final Four, but who has already played four and won two as an assistant Pablo Laso and that he called for “the energy of the team”.

Hezonja, Rudy, Ndiaye…

Against Mirotic it should be a group effort, although this time it does not seem like the defensive zone that he exhibited against Obradovic the best of resources with the quantity and quality of Barça shooters (Abrines, Laprovittola, Kuric, Sanli, Mirotic himself…). But it will also be an individual task and there are several names, some ‘inventions’ of Mateo himself.

The main designated for the mission is Mario Hezonja, another who also took the airlift, in the opposite direction, after passing through the NBA. The Croatian has always developed in the perimeter game, but due to his size (2.02 meters) and physical power, he has already shown that he can adapt to the position of power forward. “Mario is having an extraordinary season. I am delighted with him, very happy with his spirit. He will be one of those who enters that situation,” confessed the Madrid coach, who has already called on him this season. Especially during the series against Partizan: in the final three games he averaged 7.6 rebounds (14 only in the third game in Belgrade). “I’ve never played in this position, just a little in Portland and New York, but in the NBA it’s easy to do it. Here it’s more demanding, because the four don’t dribble. You have to do dirty work, rebound, block… I can play in all five positions, from one to five. I know I can do it. Wherever Chus needs me, now your role doesn’t matter”, he accepts the challenge.

But will not be the one. In the white squad there are two other power forwards. but neither Anthony Randolphwho returned a few weeks ago from a very serious injury to his Achilles heel, is at his best Petr Cornelie seems to have the confidence of Chus Mateo. Although Mateo mentioned the Gaul among the options (he also did it with Abandoned) looks Rudy Fernández the other player with more options, in his case not because of size but because of experience, defensive capacity and tactical wisdom.

“It won’t be easy. They are very long matches. You have to have more than one ace up your sleeve.” And that rabbit in Mateo’s top hat may be a homegrown player. Already at the time Usman Garuba He was one of those who danced best with Mirotic. This is John Ndiaye, 18 years old, born in Senegal but nationalized Spanish, emerged as a starter and a pleasant surprise in the fifth and historic duel against Partizan. “Eli had a very good fifth game against Leday. She has been working all year. It has been prepared. The boy has more than fulfilled. Maybe he’ll touch him again.” “Everyone knows that Mirotic is very good. I will do everything possible to help the team,” admits the youngster, who has barely played 13 games in Europe and who was in the Junior Euroleague just a year ago.