BarcelonaTwo days after losing to Baxi Manresa, Barça lost to AX Armani Exchange in Milan (73-75). The azulgrana team could not manage a difference of 10 points and was left without options of victory in a last quarter in which it received 28 points. The Catalan team suffered its third consecutive defeat.
“We lost at home because we did not follow the match plan, we cannot draw positive conclusions,” said Sarunas Jasikevicius. The coach recovered Brandon Davies and Sergi Martínez, but had the casualties of Nick Calathes, Àlex Abrines, Dante Exum and Pierre Oriola. The contribution of Kyle Kuric (22 points) and Nikola Mirotic (18) was not enough against a very powerful team.
Without Shavon Shields or Luigi Datome, Ettore Messina’s Milan AX Armani Exchange lose physical capacity to the wing position, but remain a talented team with a very well-organized defense that is difficult to counter. Sergio Rodríguez, who scored 10 of the first 14 points of the Italian team, led the offensive production of the rival of Barça during a first half marked by the good visiting defense. The locals were only able to score 28 points in the first 20 minutes in which their shooting percentages were very low. The eleven ball losses in the first two quarters also did not help to have continuity in the game (28-34).
Jasikevicius used the break to adjust some tactical measures. The strategy worked for him and, when he lost by eight points, Barça turned the score around with a partial 19-2 (47-38). The maximum local difference was 10 points. The reaction of the Milan Olympics came with Malcolm Delaney as executioner. The former Barça player scored 15 points thanks to four triples. The last quarter of the Italian set was brilliant and allowed him to reach the last seconds with an advantage. The triple finals of Kuric and Mirotic added excitement, but Laprovittola missed a shot on the horn and the victory was for the Italians. “After a horrible third quarter, we were able to react,” Messina said.
Relentless calendar
The schedule does not give Barça a break, as they will play at the Palau Blaugrana again this Thursday. The Catalan team will host Anadolu Efes, the current champion of the competition in another highly demanding match. The duel of the first round was resolved with victory in the first half.
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