Barça does not “decide” Tavares
Real Madrid turned Palau white… and the Clasico in Europe: The score was 18-18, since the Euroleague broke out, which is now 19-18 for the capital team.which broke its curse at home (1-5) in an always difficult game and which was almost lost in the last minutes of normal time, a critical situation that Facundo Campazzo saved with a treble that led to the first overtime. In the second, Madrid won and transferred some of its problems in Europe to Barça, which now has three defeats in a row, two at home. They’re both in a similar situation, and ugly: 7-5 to the Blaugrana, 6-6 to the Whites, both outside (though there is still a long way to go) from the top 6, the quarter-final zone that avoids play.
Real Madrid have won the last five Clasicos. (three League semi-finals, a Super Cup semi-final and this Euroleague semi-final). And in Palau, on a night that was difficult because defeat would have put the whites in a delicate situation, surrounded by confuse about whether or not it is convenient to conclude contracts to strengthen a squad that has so far seemed less balanced than in past years, he appeared again safety shaftmain support of the team: Facundo Campazzo-Edy Tavares. The point guard and center are two of the most decisive players in Europe and if they are at their best, Madrid can win any game. This time the PIR is 32 for the Argentinean (18 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists) and 39 for the Cape Verdeans (24 points, 18 rebounds).
Martyrdom that Barça is aware of: In the Super Cup, both had a PIR of 50 (Campazzo 33, Tavares 17). And their combined 71 on Thursday even beats the superb 67 in the first game of the last ACB semi-final (Campazzo 32, Tavares 35).
Above all, Tavares continues to be a mystery that Barça cannot solve.. No matter how many changes he makes to his plans to counteract the enormous weight they carry in games, something transcendental in recent years in the Euroleague, Tavares’ 221 centimeter height and 236 centimeter wingspan, life always seems to remain the same . In the main continental tournament, the center recorded two of his three best performances against the Blaugrana: this rating of 39 on Thursday equaled his already legendary semi-final against Barça in the 2023 Final Four (20 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks ) And He was only behind the 41st rating (26+11+3), another memorable match from the third quarter-final match of the same season against Partizan in Belgrade. and after two defeats and a fight with WiZink. The beginning of a miracle that led to the eleventh European Cup.
With Willy Hernangomez below the minimum and Chimezie Metu injured, the 2.23 figure is unlikely to have an impact on Tavares like Youssoufa Fall, who was signed with great concern for the duels against the Madrid tower. Yan Vesely signed excellent protocols, but although he has been one of the greatest centers in the Euroleague since returning from the NBA, Cech usually suffers a lot against Tavares who, for example, also scored a rating of 41 (25+13) in the decisive match of the 2021/22 League against Barça.
A big problem for Real Madrid, or the only reason to raise an eyebrow left by the Clasico Campazzo (almost 45) and Tavares (more than 36) played exactly the same minutes. The point guard will turn 34 in March and plays over 28 minutes per game in the EuroLeague and over 23 minutes per game in the ACB. Total more than three minutes per game more than last year after a very difficult start in the external rotation due to injuries to Andres Feliz and Dzanan Musa. Tavares also turns 33 in March, and there have been times this season when he hasn’t seemed up to par. He’s also playing more: over 26 minutes in the EuroLeague (down from 23 last season when Poirier replaced him) and 22 in the League, the same as last year.
Yesterday in a very difficult match Feliz and Xavier Ratan-Mays on the outside and Serge Ibaka on the inside played very little. And Usman Garuba is completing his recovery, but has been out of work for several weeks. If the situation does not change or if the contracts that many are asking for to strengthen the rotation are not signed, Madrid may have problems with the minutes and efforts of two great specialists, two unique and decisive players in the Euroleague. …but now they are veterans.
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