Mirotic, more threat than ever for Real Madrid

“Mirotic is their leader, we have to try to limit their impact”. In the Real Madrid dressing room they are aware of what Barça's main threat is for the classic that will be repeated this Friday in the Final Four. The Montenegrin's talent is joined by so many past affronts, so many accounts to settle and even the perennial morbidity of his white past. But on this occasion, all of that multiplies exponentially because it coincides with the weakness of Chus Mateo's team: none of the two 'four' will appear at the Zalgirio Arena, neither the suspended Gerschon Yabusele nor the injured Gaby Deck.

Since Niko Mirotic decided that his NBA adventure was over and that he was heading back to Europe with Barça, his confrontations against Real Madrid, where he was formed, have had everything. Controversies, unpleasant insults on WiZink and, above all, unbalancing performances. In sports, it was always a problem, although his team did not always win. On everyone's mind his thunderous display from a year ago at Stark Arena, another EuroLeague semifinal: 26 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. 39 PIR completely forgotten, as it was Madrid who took the win. “Not even with Deck and Yabusele was it easy,” Mateo has admitted these days who will have to go back to tactics to try to stop Barça's main offensive resource, especially with the absence of Corey Higgins.

It was in the series against Partizan where the baggage of a coach accustomed in his career to looking for solutions in the shadows came to light.. “We'll do it however we can.. We are already used to that of redoing ourselves from casualties. We'll see what we can think of”, replied Chus Mateo who will debut as first sword in the Final Four, but who has already played four and won two as Pablo Laso's assistant and who appealed to “the energy of the team”.

Hezonja, Rudy, Ndiaye…

Against Mirotic it should be a choral effort, although this time it does not seem like the defensive zone that exhibited the best of resources against Obradovic with the quantity and quality of Barça shooters (Abrines, Laprovittola, Kuric, Sanli, Mirotic himself…). But it will also be an individual task and there are several names, some 'inventions' of Mateo himself.

The main one designated for the mission is Mario Hezonja, another who also took the airlift, in the opposite direction, after passing through the NBA. The Croatian has always developed in the perimeter game, but due to his size (2.02 meters) and physical power, he has already shown that he can adapt to the position of power forward. “Mario is having an extraordinary season. I am delighted with him, very happy for his spirit. He will be one of those who enters that situation”, confessed the Madrid coach, who has already resorted to him this course. Especially during the series against Partizan: in the three final games he averaged 7.6 rebounds (14 only in the third game in Belgrade).. “I've never played this position, just a little bit in Portland and New York, but in the NBA it's easy to do it.. Here it is more demanding, because the four do not bounce. You have to do dirty work, rebounding, blocking…. I can play all five positions, one through five. I know I can do it. Wherever Chus needs me, it doesn’t matter your role now,” he accepts the challenge.

But he won’t be the only one. There are two other power forwards in the White squad. But neither Anthony Randolph, who returned a few weeks ago from a very serious Achilles injury, is at his best nor Petr Cornelie seems to have Chus Mateo’s confidence. Although Mateo mentioned the Gaul among the options (he also did with Abalde) it seems Rudy Fernandez the other player with more options, in his case not by size but by experience, defensive ability and tactical wisdom.

“It will not be easy. They are very long games. You have to have more than one ace up your sleeve.” And that rabbit in Mateo’s hat could be a home-grown player.. Usman Garuba was one of those who danced best with Mirotic. Eli John Ndiaye, 18 years old, born in Senegal but naturalized Spanish, emerged as a starter and a pleasant surprise in the fifth and historic duel against Partizan. “Eli played a very good fifth game against Leday. He has been working all year. He has been prepared. The kid has more than delivered. Maybe he’ll get his turn again.” “Everybody knows Mirotic is very good. I will do everything I can to help the team,” admits the youngster, just 13 games in Europe and who just a year ago was playing in the Euroleague junior league.