Stuck in a pothole of games and results, the Barça did a real survival exercise against the European champion, the Ephesus, which he beat in an agonizing match at the Palau. The leadership of Jokubaitis, author of 16 points and the decisive basket, served to mark differences against the Turkish team. The 21-year-old Lithuanian guard, well supported by the experience of Mirotic y Sanli, helped the Catalans cut their negative streak.
“This victory was very important to us, although it was not brilliant. But now it’s about fighting and believing, “he admitted. Jokubaitis.
Sarunas Jasikevicius leaving the Palau completely lit. Celebrating with his own a victory against the champion.
Sarunas is pure feeling ????????@FCBbasket #EuroligaDAZN ???? pic.twitter.com/x2aqMSrsB2
– DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) January 13, 2022
These are not easy days for him Barça in his quest to regain the level that has led him, in this first third of the season, to lead the Euroleague. They are no longer so in view of what awaits you in the immediate calendar (visit to the Valencia on Sunday, in La Liga, at Unics Kazan on 20th in the Euroleague and at Madrid on the 23rd also in the ACB) the Barça fans will have to arm themselves with patience in the coming days. They are times of pick and shovel more than of flourishes.
The desire in the players of Jasikevicius It is obvious. But between his desire and reality, a remarkable margin has opened in recent weeks for which he is bleeding. The losses and the positives have broken the rhythm of the well-oiled Barcelona machine and it is costing it to get back on track, no matter how much it incorporates, little by little, all its pieces.
A 2 + 1 THAT IS WORTH A VICTORY AGAINST THE CHAMPION, THE EPHES OF ATAMAN! ???? A basket against the 20/21 Euroleague MVP, Micic, to make the Palau go crazy! ????
This Jokubaitis is not just two points … It is quite a declaration of intent from the @FCBbasket! #EuroligaDAZN ???? pic.twitter.com/BLZjZRk0tb
– DAZN Spain (@DAZN_ES) January 13, 2022
If on Tuesday they were Brandon Davies Y Sergi Martinez those who joined the group, in front of the Turkish cadre was Dante Exum, although that does not prevent the team from continuing to show a certain thickness in attack and lacking the consistency of the first months in defense, committing errors and losses and giving up in the battle for the rebound, reasons why they have already escaped three defeats consecutive. The slump of Higgins and that of Davies, essential in Jasikevicius’s schemes, is what is most accused. The performance of both is several steps below what is expected, although against Efes they offered some improvement.
Expulsion of Ataman
Errors in the Euroleague penalize on a regular basis. But much more in front of a rival like him Ephesus, current European champion, who has numerous alternatives to hit, especially Larkin and Micic, two always clear referents in the Turkish picture, but also of Bryant Dunston, the player who changed the script in the first half in favor of the team of Ataman with his offensive success and, above all, with his dominance of the rebound. Both the American pivot and James Anderson They caused a lot of trouble in the fight under the hoops and left Efes ahead after the first half (40-41).
???????????? @Brandon_Davies0 pic.twitter.com/pSBrjU32wP
— Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) January 13, 2022
Barça seemed to find the way around the locker room with three chained triples from Sanli, Laprovittola and Kuric, which opened a first clear gap (49-41). It seemed that everything turned even more expensive when Ataman received two technical fouls for protesting (not the first time for the coach, it already happened in the first leg), with 13 minutes left.
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But the exclusion of the Turkish coach had the opposite effect. He did not take the Barcelona fans out of the thicket and, instead, freed the Efes players, especially Simon, as Larkin gave the impression of being physically touched, to leave a script open for the last quarter (61-56). That made it come to the end as if it were a marathon, with Barça at the limit of their strength, delivered to the inspiration of Jokubaitis and the Turkish team looking for Micic and Singleton, although that was not enough to materialize the surprise.
FC Barcelona, 82 – Anadolu Ephesus, 77
FC Barcelona: Laprovittola (5), Higgins (9), Martinez (2), Mirotic (15), Davies (7) – starting five – Exum (1), Sanli (13), Smits (-), Hayes (4), Kuric ( 8), Jokubaitis (16), Nnaji (2).
10 of 20 triples (Jokubaitis, 3). 27 rebounds, 6 offensive (Kuric, 6). 18 assists (Laprovittola, 5)
Anadolu Efes: Micic (18),Simon (12), Bryant (-), Singleton (6), Pleiss (2) –cinco inicial- Larkin (17), Beaubois (2), Anderson (2), Petrusev (-), Dunstons (12).
5 of 26 triples (Moerman, 2). 31 rebounds, 14 offensive (Dunston, 6). 9 assists (Larkin, 4 )
Partial:19-17; 21-24; 21-15; 21-21
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