Madrid clung to the legend of the indomitable, Sergio Llull, and caressed the Eleventhbut the block lacked offensive resources, at least one more basket (57-58). Only with defense it is difficult to sneak into the list of winners. We saw it against an Anadolu Efes that already knows that repeating leaves a mark on Europe. And that is what he did, the best by far when the pandemic was suspended, the best a year ago in Cologne and the best again now in Belgrade. The first time a team has chained two crowns since Olympiacos in 2013. Turkish dynasty.
Atamán did not break his word: “If we go to the Final Four, we win itSaid and done, fists in the wind again. He got worried at the beginning of the course, they were losing a lot and what is worse, his team, out of the top eight, did not find the sensations of yesteryear. He has recovered them in a squad diminished by injuries and by age, in which Vasilije Micic is crowned again as MVP of the final phase (22 points and all the weight of starting the plays), although the guy who has given him glory was not short, although he was playful, in his own way. The German Tibor Pleiss, 2.19, former Baskonia, Barça and Valencia, a giant with a prodigious hand. The one that took out Armani Milan in the quarterfinals and Madrid in a perfect second half, which he rounded off with 17 of his 19 goals (he added 7 rebounds for a PIR of 24).
big quintet
The staging did not leave any great surprises, of those that Ataman foresaw in Laso’s strategy. The Efes, as always. And Madrid, with a great quintet: Base Abalde (over Micic), plus Hanga (over Larkin), Deck, Yabusele and Tavares. Everyone could help out in the back, with assignment changes. Enormous defense, as in all the duel. At the junction with the 17th minute, Anadolu had 22 points (29-22). It took him almost a quarter to put the first one from the area. While, the Real, on the contrary, 0 of 8 of three, with four marrados of Yabusele. But there was Tavares. What a display closing the hoop, even brushing against some distant shot from the Turkish gamers. and inside, 5 rebounds in someone else’s hoop and 12 points. A spectacle until he committed an absurd second foul, pushing Larkin from behind with his hands. To the bank.
Llull had already left, and Taylor before, and with Rudy and soon Causeur they kept the tone against Larkin and Micic. The dynamite couple added 23 of the 29 points of theirs at the break, but only two assists, both from the American. The same as Efes in its entirety, the irrefutable proof that his teammates were disconnected from the game. Not even Moerman or Singleton could take advantage of staying at the post with some outside in a merengue defense that accelerated the changes to prevent everything from flowing. The appearance of Randolph, more than correct behind and with two three-pointers, was effervescent for the Viking offense: 34-29 at halftime.
general blackout
After the truce, Laso returned to the starting five, but with Causeur who made the second and third in the blink of an eye. A free kick from Tavares, a goal from Abalde and a three-point shot from Hanga shot Madrid: 40-31. There were 15 minutes left and Abalde missed three triples, two came out, curves were coming, many curves. Perhaps there, right there, he said goodbye to the Eleventh. General blackout until the end of the third period (only broken by Yabusele’s first hit). In reality, the storm cloud lasted to infinity and beyond.
Micic and Larkin had slowed down their individual production, but Pleiss, the MVP of the second half, got involved: 7 points in the third quarter and 10 in the final. A 2.19 that grew from the harassment of the two stars, punished with open shots, including three, near the hoop and with some rebounds. Tavares’s fourth staff did a lot of pupa. Madrid did not exceed 17 goals in the last 16 minutes, with only three baskets in play in the final act. He languished because of his lack of offensive production, with the same perimeter problems that had plagued him all season. Record for triples missed in a final with the lowest percentage ever: 6 of 33, 18%. Between Yabusele, Abalde, Causeur and Rudy, 0 of 19.
However, his indomitable character and competitive genius almost brought him glory. He touched her with Llull’s insufficient push, hence his final anger. Micic and company prevented it. The Serbian did not make the winning basket this time, but he did make a three-pointer in the final 120 seconds and stirred up the defense for Pleiss. Larkin missed the last triple and, if a clean rebound had come out, Real would have had one last shot, but the ball was alive and didn’t get caught. It must have been necessary before, in addition, but it was not in the bonus. Honk and promise kept, that of Ataman.