Endesa ACB League
- quarters - matchday 1That's how it was
Barca
93 82
Finalized
Gran Canaria
Mirotic, against Salvó, in the first game of the quarterfinals series of the 'playoffs'Alejandro Garcia (EFE)
When it seemed that Barça was fading again and wasting a wide lead -as happened in the European semifinal of the Final Four against Madrid-, the team, well led by Calathes and complemented by Davies, knew how to correct themselves in time.
Thus, against a Gran Canaria that did not give up at any time, the Barça team sharpened its wrist in the final sprint and ended up closing a stake that almost ruled from pe to pa, a first win (93-82) in the series of the quarterfinals of the
Endesa League
playoffs .
Barcelona started out of tune, with four errors in the first four pitches, also slow in defensive transitions.
Jauja for Gran Canaria, always at ease with basketball on the run.
But when the Barça team reacted after the expressive fuss and recriminations of Jasikevicius, he pulled his legs to unleash the rival spark, perhaps a little uncomfortable before Slaughter's entries.
So after the hesitant start, Calathes' connection with Mirotic began to work, in addition to the enormous superiority in rebounding on both boards, and Barça gained momentum to close the first quarter by 24 to 17. And that the punishment could have been greater because the azulgrana team was a fair shotgun in the launches of three, with two of nine.
Porfirio Fisac snorted in the technical area, enraged because Barça not only accepted the challenge of running but also won it because when Exum is inspired few can tie him down.
Counterattacks, assists and even a mate from the Australian to make the
flashes
shine .
That and that the wide Barça bench responded at times, especially a fresh Higgins after coming out of injury who added quality minutes.
Nothing that would make Jasikevicius happy, who at each time-out was screaming and lamenting to incite his own, aware that Barcelona's pending task is to
kill
rivals, sustain differences.
Something that Porfirio Fisac tried to explain by changing the defense with a man-to-man marking and that the former Barça player Pustovyi and Shurna, also Slaughter, underlined with outside shots on the opposite hoop.
An attempt at rebellion that Mirotic and Calathes again suffocated to reach the interval with a difference of nine points (48-39).
Although the Barça bloodletting continued in the three-point shots, which made Fisac recover the zonal defense, Brandon Davies asked for a turn to prevail under the hoop while Ennis finally stretched on the rival board with the points claimed by the Great Canaria, also Shurna's offensive rebounds, capital merits because his team managed to reduce the distance to three at the end of the third quarter (67-64).
Another sign that Barcelona has a hard time closing games and drowning the rival, not even playing at the Palau.
A comeback that Stevic under the rim, that Chery from the bottle and Brussino with his penetrations tried to complete.
But it didn't happen because Calathes, again Calathes (he finished with 10 points), Higgins (12) and Sergio Martínez (5) met again with the triples,
while Exum (16) and Davies (16) made us forget a discreet performance by Mirotic (13), from more to less.
A final sprint that avoided disappointment and that puts Barcelona ahead in the tie because it is enough to win at home or in the last duel at the Palau to reach the semifinals.
You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes on
and
, or sign up here to receive
our weekly newsletter
.