Real Madrid does not want to drown on the shore
The Madrid team and Partizán, reinforced by Kevin Punter, play the ‘F4’ to a card at the WiZink Center
MADRID, 9 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid will try this Wednesday at the WiZink Center (9:00 p.m.) to close their epic comeback in the 2022-2023 Euroleague ‘Playoff’ and get the ticket for the Kaunas Final Four, finally taking advantage of a nothing ‘field factor’ decisive in the series against a Serbian Partizan that already has its entire ‘arsenal’ again.
The Madrid team has achieved what seemed almost a chimera after the first two games of the tie. Dominated by Zeljko Obradovic’s men on their own court, the ten-time champion had to return the coin in the impressive Stark Arena and in a ‘fearsome’ atmosphere, even more so after what happened in the second duel, which also marked this meeting, and managed to survive.
Those of Chus Mateo, with a lot of suffering and an expensive toll, used their experience and defense to earn the right to return to a WiZink Center that will give its part to help Real Madrid try to reach the ‘ F4’. No one has come back from 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the top continental competition and the current runner-up wants to be the first to do so against a Partizan that is looking for something that hasn’t been seen before (unless Fenerbahce does it this Tuesday in Piraeus) such as winning the fifth and definitive at home.
The Madrid team has gained in confidence after leaving Belgrade unscathed, two games in which they improved their defensive performance, finally reducing the offensive damage that the Serbian team did to them this season. He did so largely thanks to the return of Walter Tavares, the differential factor for Chus Mateo’s men, and a zone defense that bogged down Obradovic’s shooters, who were less reliable than expected.
The pivot will be key once again, even more so after Gaby Deck’s serious injury in the fourth game. Without him, absent in the third clash due to his role in the brawl that overshadowed the second, nor Guerschon Yabusele, who will no longer play in the Euroleague until next year due to suspension, and with doubts about the physical condition of a Vincent Poirier who Little has been able to help, the Cape Verdean, who did not play on Sunday in the victory against Unicaja, will have to “grow up” even more.
The African needs the cooperation on the inside, mainly from Mario Hezonja, who in the third match, playing the role of “Tortoise”, signed an excellent “double-double” with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Anthony Randolph and Petr Cornelie will have to be ready to give their all when rest is called for inside.
Tavares is Obradovic’s ‘obsession’. His team has only dominated the second game with great authority, in which the ‘5’ could not play due to injury, and when he is on court he has suffered more to attack and, above all, to defend. The best news for the Serbian coach, who has dropped Avramovic, his starting point guard, is that for this match he will have Kevin Punter back, whose absence due to suspension was noted at the Stark Arena and whose points the champion missed of Europe in 1992.
Stopping the American shooting guard will be one of Real Madrid’s main tasks, as will finding a way to prevent Tavares from wearing himself out and taking fouls against Matthias Lessort, Zach Leday, superb in the fourth game, and Alen Smailagic. Hezonja will once again occupy the position of ‘4’ as in the third game where he grabbed 14 rebounds. In attack, in addition to Tavares, he will need more from the rest, especially a Dzanan Musa, improved in the fourth, but still without a fine wrist from the triple.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT.
REAL MADRID: Williams-Goss, Causeur, Musa, Hezonja and Tavares — possible starting quintet — Hanga, Sergio Rodriguez, Rudy Fernandez, Llull, Cornelie, Randolph, Poirier, Abalde and Ndiaye.
PARTIZÁN: Exum, Punter, Trifunovic, Leday y Smailagic –posible quinteto inicial– Lessort, Madar, Andjusic, Papapetrou, Nunnally, Vukcevic y Koprivica.
–REFEREES: Ryzhyk, Latisevs and Difallah.
–PAVILION: WiZink Center.