Madrid before, Madrid now: reasons for the fall

Now we can talk about a crisis. Even if it’s just beginning, even if it’s small, and even if it doesn’t have to be final. Real Madrid have five defeats in eight official matches, problems are piling up and no solutions are coming. The loss to Baskonia in the EuroLeague highlighted the shortcomings the Whites have in a turbulent start to the season.full of difficulties and a lot to think about. One of the favorites to win the main continental competition is at his limit, exhausted, despite a brave effort in Vitoria, where everything was tried, the defense improved and there were options in the end. But it was not even thanks to this that the victory was achieved: Pablo Lazo won for his team before and now against the opponent that was once his home, in which he won so many titles and forged an incomprehensible legend.

There are many reasons for the fall of Madrid, which above all seeks to recognize itself again. Summer trips, whether in the form of retreats or not, left a huge void in their wake. And farewell to Guershon Yabusele, who heads to the Sixers for his second NBA adventure after a superb Olympics (silver with France). It was a jug of cold water that had not yet been filled. This is where the Whites are waiting for signings that are not enough to complete the squad, one limping away from what they had before and not getting any return now. Chus Mateo demands to arrive at the press conference and the victims pile up: Ousmane Garuba and Andres Feliz were not against Baskonia. Neither did Facundo Campazzo, who was warned to play against Partizan, but was not given a new opportunity and was allowed to visit Buesa.

Madrid is facing its worst start in more than a decade. Ranks tenth in the Endesa League with a 1-2 record. and a far cry from invincibles Unicaja and Barcelona, ​​who enjoy a perfect 3-0 domestic league record. In the Euroleague there is the same balance and twelfth position, while no one is doing well except for Red Star, which has not lost a single one of the three games played and is in command of the fighting. With the Super Cup defeat still ringing in the distance, they beat the Catalans in the semi-finals, a deserved but lackluster victory, before losing to today’s Spanish basketball sensation, Unicaja, which rebelled and wants to end the monopoly ordinary. Unexpected, but true. Madrid adds one disappointment after another and the situation is not improving. Something that no one expected, but it happens.

Summer lows

Yabusele’s departure was a very difficult blow, which will sooner or later be overcome, but not the only one. Vincent Poirier, who is acquitting himself in Efes, has left a void that is not currently filled by the acquisitions of Serge Ibaka and Ousmane Garuba: the former is gaining strength and suffers from the fact that he is barely 35 years old. while the second, after three years in the NBA, arrives with great inactivity and low competitiveness and does not finish the start.in addition to physical problems that are not resolved. A problem for Eddie Tavares, who has to make one extra effort after another: the Cape Verdean center added 14 points, 15 rebounds (9 offensive), 2 assists and 3 blocks against Baskonia, a match in which he was on the court for a grueling 32 minutes. This didn’t help either.

But even worse was the disappearance of three white myths: Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez went into retirement, while Fabien Coser did the same, but at Armani Milan, where, at the age of 37, he would experience his last great adventure.. Beyond the level, they were three very important individuals in the dressing room, necessary to maintain the emotional balance required by a team of this level, with a team in which egos can always cause problems and in which there is a fair distribution of responsibilities if you want everyone to end up happy. Sergio Lull seems very lonely in this job, and Campazzo is a real dynamite, an indomitable character with great competitiveness that almost always turns into something positive. but negatively in situations that may be isolated but now cause more damage to the team. As always happens when dynamics are not desired.

This was very noticeable in the case of Mario Hezonja, for whom it is not good to have a voluntary function as a representative. In the summer, the Croatian already played a major role in a real farce with his failed departure to Barça and his constant fooling around with Partizan, whom he continues to flatter despite his extension being postponed ad nauseum. Already in the team dynamics his role is unstable (13 points, but 3 out of 10 in threes against Baskonia) and his outbursts of something all too common. During the break of the game against Bilbao Basket, he openly criticized Chus Mateo, who did not engage in controversy. And the situation is resolved behind closed doors, but without people of the level of Rudy, Chacho or Coser, who had a lot of authority depending on what things… and they are no longer there.

In sports, these losses are also very important. Coser was easy on the second unit, scoring easily and providing wisdom.within the limits of their length and experience. Rudy didn’t matter, with defense and threes. And Sergio Rodriguez was a distribution genius who gave the team more speed in transition, he was very good at blocking and finishing the ball, and also had a fierce connection with Poirier that allowed White to play well above the rim at many stages of the play. . There is no point guard, as well as a Frenchman, so no one can make him work correctly anymore, and other opportunities are being looked for. Madrid continues to perform well, but has too many static problems for the individual talent his team possesses.. And those who left cannot return.

Insist on persisting

Survival comes through persistence, through persistence, even if only in tow, in the context of a grueling calendar. Madrid hosts Panathinaikos, its bid for WiZink. Yes, this is Ergin Ataman, the man who beat them with Efes in 2021 and 2022, once in the quarterfinals and once in the final.. Also last season, this time with the green team, which he led to the top thanks to his infinite wisdom. He course of action The coach, a character if there ever was one and also one of the best technicians in history, can have an impact on a morally affected group like Madrid. But there is no better place for rebirth than this. However, the game is excellent, but somewhat blurred: one team is in crisis, and the other does not make it to the exit. In the case of the Greeks this is not a concern: The chieftain gives his troops time to start, and haste has never been his companion.. Why change? In the end, everything worked out well for him. Very.

Madrid will finish the week with a match against Girona, also on WiZink, and that’s the only good news for them in a three-game week. They are all in Spain and the last two do not leave Madrid, a blessing that will not be repeated forever but will be extended next week. when they get Estrella Roja (single leader) and Manresa. Just four games in a row at home, in which they won two of their three wins on the season (the other, in the Super Bowl, was at a neutral site). And a good way to improve and definitely gain sensations. Of course, against important opponents, especially in the main continental competitions, where momentum and fitness, as well as series, have a big impact.

Now we will see whether Madrid has hit rock bottom or whether this moment will drag on. and how much. There are noticeable problems in defense (Baskonia’s 76 points is their lowest, with four games of 80 or more points in the first seven games and three of 90 or more points) and in distribution. where outside of Campazzo there is only one Lull on the way to 37 years. Xavier Ratan-Mays needs to improve his three and reduce dribble time while Chus Mateo looks for a place where the attack will not slow down so much. Hezonja talks less and plays more. Dzanan Musa translates statistics into the good deeds of others. And the injuries disappear, no matter when, so that the rotation is larger (six players with 22 or more minutes against Baskonia, four with 25 or more minutes and two with 32). And above all, Madrid must be on par with their budget and squad and get back to winning ways as soon as possible to avoid being compromised in the future. There is a crisis. It can no longer be denied.

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