Baskonia continues with its negative streak

“You put on a circus and the dwarves grow”, they say. After a fateful week in Germany, losing to Alba in Berlin and Bayern in Munich, the team from Joan Peñarroya undertook a trip to Belgrade to play in perhaps the hottest arena in the Euroleague. The oldest of the place remember Perasovic, a Croatian, grieving the insults he received from the Serbs in the post-war in the Balkans. That match, the first after the war, was won by Baskonia at Pionir with a triple, precisely, from the Croatian. Now they play in another fiefdom, the Stark Arena in Belgrade.

Howard didn’t even travel to Belgrade because of a back problem. The American sniper has been having problems in that area for a few days and he didn’t even get on the plane but The one who did was Pi Henry, ruled out at the last minute due to soleus problems. “The game director of Cazoo Baskonia is pending developments but he has muscle discomfort in the soleus of his right leg, which is why he is out at the last minute against Partizán,” read the official statement. Minutes, therefore, for Thompson and Kurucs. And an affable reunion of Marinkovic with what was his house.

The first quarter began with a clogged Baskonia, just as it did on Tuesday in Munich (14-8 and Peñarroya’s first timeout). Avramovic did a lot of damage with his triples and the Serbian interiors prevailed over the people from Vitoria. And that Marinkovic was reunited in what was his fiefdom, with 5 points in 5 minutes. Luxury spectators like Savic or Paspalj in the first row of the track. Papapetrou was also very inspired in the first act and, by the 7th, the Serbs doubled the Cazoo (24-12). Fitting 29 in the first period was painful again.

Things started even worse in the second. Partizán came to be 19 up with 45-26 on 16. Lessort and Leday dwarfed the people of Alava and the local foreigners struck from triple. Giedraitis, for example, missing in action. Things were looking dark gray when Thompson took command and the Basques endorsed a final run of 0-8. Obradovic’s team stagnated in scoring and went more than 4 minutes without scoring. Marinkovic was still the main gunner and the 47-36 was the lesser evil.

As they had improved in defense, they continued in that line around the locker room. A run of 0-13 with a good Sedekerskis, a more involved Thompson and, above all, the Serb from Baskonia on an inspired night. Also Kotsar. With 47-41 it was already raining less but if you walk on the wire they end up punishing you again. They were harmful minutes for the Basques because Partizán began to score again. A technique to Peñarroya also did damage to his team. They were good moments for the ex-Barcelonista Exum. Hommes, for example, with 0/4 in triples and missing his second free throw of the season in the Euroleague.

17 points down and to face the last ten minutes of the clash. Dani Díez began to help from the triple but it was insufficient for a heroic reaction (78-58, min. 36, with a triple by Trifunovic). Another topic of analysis was the particular average since it should not be ruled out that both teams are in the same area of ​​the table. at the end of the regular phase. In Vitoria, those from Peñarroya won by 7 so… another disappointment. From being leaders, to fighting for the Top-8 with less and less cushion on the positions outside the block.

The week of two German commitments and one Serbian has been devastating. Y the next time Barcelona arrives at the Buesa Arena. In addition, there are two injured: Henry and Howard, a man who gives you an average of 16 points per game. It is true that the club’s idea is to reach the Copa del Rey in Badalona in good shape, but after a pristine month of December, January has a fairly stiff slope. On Sunday we will have to receive Joventut at the Buesa in the ACB League. Pau Ribas, a former Baskonia player, has a muscle injury.