In a state of happiness like the one experienced by the Madrid universe, it is difficult to imagine the end of the party. The football team lives a bright present and a future that seems dazzling. Basketball, for its part, is also in excellent health. Current champions of the Euroleague, they have dominated the regular season to the point of breaking the record for victories, they beat Baskonia in the playoffs of the quarterfinals and arrive in Berlin in perfect condition and with the loss of Gaby Deck as the only shadow. Even in this bad news, the most superstitious will be able to see a positive note, since a year ago he was also injured around this time and Real Madrid ended up lifting the cup after a historic shot (yet another) by Sergio Llull. It will be the ninth presence in the last 11 editions, which speaks of excellent work carried out on the track and in the offices, and which has allowed us to maintain maximum competitiveness for more than a decade.
In comparison with the path taken last season, very turbulent with the beginning of the post-Pablo Laso era, the doubts after the defeat in the Cup, the massive fight in the Palace against Partizan and the subsequent feat of coming back from 0-0. 2 to finish by going epic until winning the title, this course has been a raft of oil. Once the debate on the suitability of Chus Mateo has been settled, the return of Campazzo has finished shoring up a team that was already tremendously solid, eliminating the lack of definition of minutes and roles in the point guard position, where Williams Goss, Hanga and the two circulated. Sergios and that it was one of the few weaknesses he suffered. With the League’s MVP in charge and Chacho for any contingency, no matter how extreme, Madrid is always well managed on the court, which has incalculable value, especially in the definition territory.
If the pair of point guards is excellent, what can we say about the tandem formed by Tavares, the bogeyman of European basketball, and Poirier, who is in the best moment of his career. Between shorts and pivots, the la la la trio formed by Musa, Yabusele and Hezonja perform, as powerful as they are complementary. And to maintain the Hispanic quota and the essence of the Real Madrid brand, there are Rudy Fernández and the best Sergio Llull of recent times, a veteran couple of unquestionable ancestry over the group. A whole arsenal of talent, physique and experience that arrives at this important event fine, fresh and confident.
It is not surprising, therefore, that logic and numbers point towards their favoritism, but this competition is very tough since it touches all suits (Regular League, playoffs and final to four) and forces us to ratify what has been done for eight months in an unpredictable weekend full of traps. The first, the one that Olympiacos, Barcelona’s recent executioner and annoying as a toothache, is going to offer. In the possible future, Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos. Classic adversaries of a European basketball that today has Madrid as its first reference. The time has come to corroborate this well-founded optimism.
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