The tenth consecutive victory, third in the Euroleague, was outlined by the brush of Facu Campazzo and was executed with the hammer of Vincent Poirier. In full effervescence, almost touched by fairies, Real Madrid sent Zalgiris to the canvas thanks also to the dull work of Gabriel Deck, who never cared about subtleties. However, beyond any individual merit, Chus Mateo's team once again showed a high level in all areas. Unapproachable for the Lithuanian champion, who arrived undefeated after their victories in Bologna and against Red Star in Kaunas. [Narrative and statistics (93-79)]
Campazzo (18 points, nine assists), Poirier (18 points, seven rebounds) and Deck (19 points) were the vanguard of a fun and attractive team, whose fantastic moment will be examined this Thursday by Nikola Mirotic's Olimpia Milano. Next week it will be Barça, capable of taking two places like Piraeus and Belgrade, who will parade through the WiZink. Ettore Messina and Roger Grimau will have to invent something to thwart this Madrid's streak.
Against Zalgiris, four triples were enough in two and a half minutes to turn the score from 13-14 to 25-16. Three of them, on the wrist of Campazzo, to whom they gave a solemn ovation when he gave way to Sergio Rodríguez. In nine minutes, Facu had already accumulated 14 points and two assists, a good example of his exceptional moment of form. In any case, this Madrid not only stands out in navigation, but also overwhelms with its scoring success.
Exceptional success
After the 15th minute, Chus Mateo's second unit, led by Rudy Fernández, already boasted a comfortable advantage (43-30). And the captain had come out to keep Edgaras Ulanovas' fine left foot at bay.. That the former Fenerbahçe forward no longer passed the blocks so easily, the credit went to the Mallorcan. It was more difficult to find a consistent explanation for White's 8/12 in triples. Or that action by Poirier, walking the track from end to end, avoiding rivals, before they stopped him in an unsportsmanlike manner.
Madrid flowed in every corner of the court, almost oblivious to Zalgiris' opposition or the vicissitudes of the scoreboard.. Its varied, baroque offensive resources unleashed the enthusiasm of WiZink. People found no cause for alarm even against Naz Mitrou-Long, a point guard with an agile waist and an even lighter head.. After dribbling through the zone twice and scoring a bizarre baby hook against Sergio Llull, after seven almost consecutive points, Kazis Maksvytis scolded the point guard for his lack of collective commitment.
Zalgiris would still have the option to show its true entity. He did it after the break, thanks to a radical defensive change, causing four turnovers in five minutes, where the locals only scored with two free throws from Edy Tavares. With the Cape Verdean already on the bench, due to two consecutive personnel in attack, a 2+1 by Rolands Smits would place a threatening 55-52.
Manek's doll
Madrid couldn't even look at the rim, which closed the third quarter with just 10 field goals.. However, even when traveling through a barren wasteland, he knows how to find alternatives.. For example, with Deck in the low post. Seven points from the Argentine neutralized Brady Manek's eight consecutive points, to return stability before the last quarter (72-62).
From then on it was not even necessary to risk Tavares or resort to Campazzo's spell, because his substitutes were already enough. If Llull had stunned the staff with two signature baskets, the alley-hoop between Poirier and Chacho, finished by the Frenchman with his left foot, was of another dimension. Closing a Euroleague night with 26 assists seems right now only within the reach of a select few. And they dress in white.