Valencia’s attack, one of the best in Europe, was able to defeat Madrid, one of the best defenses in the Euroleague. The defeats in Kaunas and Granada did not alter Pedro Martínez’s dizzying three-point formula (16/41 for 39 percent) one bit. It doesn’t matter what happens on one side of the field, as long as the other team blinks, Valencia is capable of scoring. And he can do it from any position and at any moment of the attack, preferably in the first seconds of possession. This is how Valencia Basket disarmed a team that had just won with authority against Fenerbahçe and at the Palau.
Two and a half quarters had passed and Valencia Basket had already launched 29 triples. Yes, 29 three-pointers. Almost twice as many shots of two! The outrage also resulted in 12 successes, more than 40 percent success. Eleven players, all except Key, had shot and seven had hit. And if in that scenario, Madrid’s disadvantage was only three points, there was a lot to dig into. Because Madrid was able to withstand the attacks of Pedro Martínez’s team, control the losses that were skyrocketing at halftime – they ended up with 16 – and ensure that Tavares’ three early fouls did not weigh too much. Those personals revealed that Len has moved ahead of Garuba in the rotation.
Another key that Madrid can no longer hide is Lyles’ weight (23 points and 8 rebounds) in scoring. He arrived after scoring at least ten points in the last seven games and he was in charge of supporting Scariolo’s group in the third quarter. He had an outburst like the one at the Palau that was essential for Valencia not to escape. The Brescia coach had already warned before the game that the visit to the Roig Arena is “one of the most complicated tasks right now in the Euroleague” because Valencia has “more depth, talent, quality and experience” than last year. And Valencia’s attack was much more fluid than Madrid’s (7/29 for 24 percent) despite the 8 blocks received.
Madrid’s problem in the decisive stretch was called Mario Hezonja. The Croatian was stubborn in attack and had one of those minutes in which he wages war on his own and loses all the battles. Added to the errors at the rim was a 2+1 by Kameron Taylor right under their noses that put the locals 12 points ahead. It didn’t matter that the percentage of success from three dropped because that is where Valencia’s most virtues appeared. The work of their interiors was inexhaustible, the fouls were almost always well committed and it didn’t matter if Lyles continued doing his thing. The American was too alone. Quite the opposite of the basketball played by Valencia, which adorned the victory with another small portion of triples.
89. Valencia Basket (22+23+22+22): Montero (9), Moore (15), Taylor (9), Pradilla (8) and Reuvers (11) – starting quintet – Thompson (14), Badio (6), Puerto (4), Costello (4), Sima (4), Key (1) and López-Arostegui (0).
76. Real Madrid (21+17+22+16): Campazzo (15), Abalde (0), Deck (5), Lyles (23) and Tavares (1) – starting quintet – Feliz (0), Maledon (10), Hezonja (11), Okeke (2), Len (5), Llull (0) and Garuba (0).
Referees: Mogulkoc (Tur), Jovcic (Ser) and Thepenier (Fra). No eliminated.
Incidents: 14,875 spectators at the Roig Arena. Match corresponding to the tenth day of the Euroleague.
10th day: Dubai Basketball, 102-Red Star, 86; Fenerbahçe, 84-Maccabi Tel Aviv, 75; Hapoel Tel Aviv, 114-Baskonia, 89; Partizan, 78-Monaco, 76; Virtus Bologna, 99-Anadolu Efes, 89; Valencia Basket, 89-Real Madrid, 76; Paris Basketball, 95-Panathinaikos, 99; Olympiacos-Zalgiris Kaunas (20:15); Bayern Munich-Barcelona (20:30) and Armani Milan-ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:30). (All in Movistar +).
Classification (wins/losses): 1. Hapoel Tel Aviv (8/2); 2. Zalgiris Kaunas (7/2); 3. Red Star (7/3); 4. Olympiacos (6/3); 5. Monaco (6/4); 6. Valencia Basket (6/4); 7. Panathinaikos (6/4); 8. Barcelona (5/4); 9. Bayern Munich (5/4); 10. Real Madrid (5/5); 11. Fenerbahçe (5/5); 12. Virtus Bologna (5/5); 13. Armani Milan (4/5); 14. Paris Basketball (4/5); 15. Dubai Basketball (4/6); 16. Partizan (4/6); 17. Anadolu Efes (3/7); 18. Baskonia (3/7); 19. ASVEL Villeurbanne (2/7); 20. Maccabi Tel Aviv (2/8).