Laso’s men want it 2-0 at the Palace to travel to Tel Aviv to win the ‘Final Four’
MADRID, 22 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This Friday (8:45 p.m.), Real Madrid faces the second duel of the Euroleague playoff against Maccabi, again at the WiZink Center, after a positive first chapter, with victory and good feelings, looking to travel to Tel Aviv with a 2-0 that brings him closer to the ‘Final Four’.
Pablo Laso’s team knew how to wipe the slate clean with the hour of truth in the highest continental competition. The 10-time European champion, who last won in 2018, entered the series with eight defeats in the last 10 games, but produced a version close to outstanding.
From the start, Madrid showed intensity, defensive aggressiveness and desire, all accompanied by a great success of three (16 triples) and several players at a high level. Without a doubt, the ‘playoff’ demands the maximum and Fabien Causeur was there (20 points). Also, while waiting to see if Laso ‘pardons’ Thomas Heurtel, although the matter seems to be resolved, Williams-Goss left a great direction and defense.
Yabusele also played at a high level on Wednesday, in a vibrant game in which the Palacio accompanied from the first to the last minute. Laso’s men took the important first point forward with confidence also in the final minutes, where the game tightened somewhat, to scare away the ghosts of the last European defeats. “In this type of situation experience is a degree and I hope it will be positive,” said the Basque coach.
“We must not err on the side of conformism. We must forget about yesterday’s game. We have done it many times and facing the playoffs knowing that they can go well or badly, but thinking about the next game. We must analyze things to improve them”, added the coach of a Madrid that last year stayed in this round of the quarterfinals, eliminated by Anadolu Efes.
Wilbekin, Nunnally and a Reynolds who ended up hurting Tavares, whom the white team is most waiting for at this key moment, were the resources of a Maccabi who showed danger but did not quite believe it. Those from Tel Aviv arrived on a roll but their chances of being in Belgrade are mainly due to snatching the ‘field factor’ from the people of Madrid in this second match.
DATASHEET.
–TEAMS.
REAL MADRID: Williams-Goss, Abalde, Causeur, Yabusele and Tavares –possible starting five–; Rudy Fernández, Hanga, Randolph, Poirier, Llull, Taylor and Núñez.
–REFEREES: Ryzhyk, Difallah, Lottermoser.
–PAVILLION: WiZink Center.