Euroleague: Nunn unsettles Barcelona | Basketball | Sports

Barça has lost its way along the way, a team that hinted a lot and that has been left in the water, puppet after puppet, tin mentality when the decisive moments arrive, because it has five defeats in the last six games, the last four of run. This Tuesday it was against Nunn’s Panathinaikos, capable of deciding when basketball ends, since he closed the first three quarters with baskets from home at the buzzer. Wings for the Greek team and a violent shock for Barcelona, ​​which assembles doubts in the figure of coach Joan Peñarroya, dissatisfied in Europe and in the ACB. So now it sounds like a pipe dream to think about the Final Fourwhich is already known to be from May 23 to 25 in Abu Dhabi, the first time outside European territory without counting those held in Israel (1994 and 2004), which does have teams participating in the competition.

Ergin Ataman – the magician of the bench with three Euroleagues in his bag – surprised from the start; the last one in the previous season against Madrid – with a staging with three bases, unconcerned about centimeters. The idea was defensive because Kalaitzakis did not worry about the rival hoop but was a real burden for Punter, the shadow, the biggest nuisance because the North American, who did not score a basket in the first act or the second. It happened that the coach of the Greek team was not worried in attack either because he has uncorked the best version of Juancho Hernangómez since he excelled last year in the Final Fournow undisputed starter with sensational records, idol of the effervescent fans. Energetic, also vertical, he was the first to scare Barcelona, ​​who could not find a remedy for their basketball. Only Parker, always so dapper on the hardwood, the dancer with the orange ball, responded with his feints and mid-range shots. But it was little for a Panathinaikos that also took refuge in Lorenzo Brown, electricity in its purest form, the triple on the order of the day. Out of position, Barça clung to Juan Núñez, more academic, intelligence to power, a layup here and there, also a target from the periphery to return to the tight spots until Nunn hit a shot from the center of the field (25- 19) when the clock indicated the end.

Barça did not win in the face of adversity, aware that its margin for error was becoming smaller, catapulted by the second unit, again with Juan Núñez’s layups, with Anderson’s triples and with the points of and that, of step, he discovered the rival’s weakness under the post. Satoransky Penetrations, pick&roll for Vesely and, finally, a recognizable Barça that, however, collapsed with the rebound to the joy of a Panathinaikos that regained color in time. And that was also why Nunn was there, who closed the event, again, with a basket when the second hand ticked (45-45).

Barça returned more voracious after the break, the one that pumps out fists and bumps hands with the baskets, sharp from the inside and abrasive from the outside. A three-pointer from Satoransky, another from Punter – who finally took the cover off the basket – and two more from Abrines (the first came after he stopped Lessort in his tracks when he was about to make a dunk) elevated the Barça team and They put Panathinaikos in chloroform. But Barça had the green arrow pointing up, even though Punter was not sweet, anonymous on the pitch for once. Parker made a dunk that made OAKA tremble, Abrines sealed three free throws in a row and Anderson made a block on Brown to take off his hat and, of course, so that the pavilion began to roar because his team was breaking down at times. Until, of course, Nunn, for the third time, once again hit a triple from the center of the field at the end of the fourth (63-69).

And so began the epilogue Nunn, two others chofs from the triple, another two slaps for a Barça that covered its ears at the bustle of the fans and its eyes at the rival’s ability to put the tie in a jiffy. Another very good game and goodbye to Barcelona, ​​which short-circuited in a bad way. Lost balls, balls into the hoop and not into the net, balls for the greens, who came to a boil with Nunn, Grant and Sloukas to return Barça to its reality, the one that says it has everything but pulse for hot moments. , as he scored the first seven points of the quarter for the Blaugrana. And when Punter said his thing with a triple, he lost what he had gained by allowing a steal and basket by Lessort. It happened that Vesely resisted the slap and that Abrines made three free throws to tie the game with nine seconds left, now without Nunn due to the elimination of personnel. It happened then that Lessort took the free kick, scored a free kick and sealed the victory for Panathinaikos while knocking Barcelona to the canvas, pigeonholed in defeat.

Real Madrid also lost in its visit to Lyon Villeurbane (80-78) to underline itself as the best of the guests, as it has five defeats in six away games (). In France he was subdued by Maledon (23 points), even though Deck and Hezonja showed resistance. The positive note of the day, in any case, came from Baskonia, which beat Fenerbahçe (88-76) with the direction of Howards (17 points) and the support of Baldwin and Hall (14 both).