Laso returns to the Palace with a Baskonia without margin
The former whites coach needs the victory against a Real Madrid that cannot lift its foot in the Euroleague
MADRID, 22 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid and Baskonia meet this Thursday at the Movistar Arena on the occasion of matchday 23 of the Euroleague, a duel marked by the return of Pablo Laso directing a Spanish team that was his home for 11 seasons, with the Basques in need and without wanting to get into trouble for the whites to be in the playoffs.
Laso returns to the Palace on Goya Street fulfilling his dream of directing Baskonia but with a very complicated and irregular season. The coach and the Vitoria team are not getting it right and the objectives are not being met either in the Endesa League or in Europe. Last week, the Basques were left out of the Copa del Rey.
Now, the top continental competition finds them three wins behind the ‘Top 10’ in Madrid, with the second round already underway, and with very little margin for error. For its part, Madrid is eighth, one win away from the ‘Top 6’, and seems to be on a better path after a difficult year fitting pieces together, although they come from a European defeat.
Olympiacos struck down Chus Mateo’s team with three-pointers and stormed the white pavilion last week, so there is a good sense of obligation to win also for the locals in the visit of a Laso who will undoubtedly be well received. The now Baskonia coach is confident of continuing to see green shoots in a team that has proven to be capable of playing great games.
This was the case on the final day last week, when the Gasteiz team beat Panathinaikos. The first thing, according to Laso himself in the preview, will be to defend, and then wait for a battle between Chima Moneke, Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Donta Hall and Markus Howard in the capital. Waiting, Mateo’s team has a couple that is still in fashion: Facundo Campazzo and Walter Tavares.
Mario Hezonja and Dzanan Musa guarantee many points and the Madrid coach has also recovered his strength, he has more of his wardrobe, as with Usman Garuba highlighting the last games. In addition, Mateo has the recent signing of Dennis Smith Jr, who could rotate alongside a thriving Andrés Feliz to ‘Facu’ Campazzo, who personally will want to make up for his performance in the defeat against the Greeks.
TECHNICAL SHEET:
–TEAMS:
REAL MADRID: Campazzo, Abalde, Hezonja, Ndiaye and Tavares –possible starting five–; Dennis Smith Jr, Musa, Llull, Rathan-Mayes, Garuba, Feliz, Ibaka and González.
BASKONIA: Forrest, Baldwin, Luwawu-Cabarrot, Diop and Moneke –possible starting quintet–; Jaramaz, Rogkavopoulos, Hall, Samanic, Howard, Raieste, Savkov and Ndiaye.
–REFEREES: Belosevic, Nedovic and Peerandi
–PAVILLION: Movistar Arena.
–TIME: 20.45/Movistar Plus.