Loud music, smiles and half smiles, concentrated, confident faces, knowing looks, impossible high fives, connection, a plan. That’s what I see every time I’m in the preview of a Unicaja match.
Having a great attack and a great defense is the most important thing, without a doubt, but the other thing, everything that is not basketball, is the key, it is what gives you one more point. Measuring shooting percentages or assists when studying a possible signing is simple, especially in today’s basketball, but knowing if a player’s personality is going to mesh with that of another is more complicated. Matching the individual objectives of each member of the team with those of his teammates is an arduous task, and doing so with those of all of them with those of the club is an enormous challenge.
Anticipating all of this when you are creating a project is complicated, but sometimes it happens. And that’s when budgets are put aside and you think that anything can happen.
We see it every year in some teams in different competitions and at all levels. Impossible saves, surprising classifications playoffs, such as those of BAXI Manresa, the feat of UCAM Murcia – which will play for the title in an unprecedented final against Real Madrid -, or unimaginable winners of championships.
If you add to all this that some of the players from Unicaja, the champion in the regular phase, have a special charisma to connect with the public, that is when you get the perfect storm.
