By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona has been the top defensive team this season in EuroLeague and confirmed this also in Milan against Olimpia. The top-placed Blaugrana forced their opponents to a season-low in scoring to win 56 – 72 and continue being above anyone else in the race for the spot in the standings.
While Nikola Mirotic (15 points, five rebounds) and Adam Hanga (11 points) led the charge in scoring for Barcelona, Nick Calathes dished out 11 assists while also grabbing six rebounds to become a major factor for his team despite finishing with zero points (0-6 shots). Their team dismantled Milano‘s offensive efforts to go up even by 22, 46 – 68 with four minutes to play.
“I am proud of my team. I think that our attitude was amazing tonight,” Mirotic said. “We knew that if we wanted to win this game, we had to play good defense. So it is a big win for us because against Milan, one of the best teams in the EuroLeague, we showed once again that we are playing good basketball. And I am very happy.”
Milano led 25 – 24 in the mid of the second period but then Barca took the advantage and the “Red Shoes” trailed for the remainder of the match. Only Shavon Shields (13 points) scored in double figures for the hosts that completed the match with 15 – 39 shots (2-15 3-pointers) and just nine assists for 17 turnovers.
No rest until the first place is locked
Barcelona is currently 22 – 8 and has three more wins than second-placed CSKA Moscow but nothing is over regarding the first spot according to Sarunas Jasikevicius.
“We needed to be a little bit patient,” Jasikevicius said.” I thought Nick Calathes really ran the team excellent in the second half. He put all the players in position, we knew where to attack. The defense of Victor Claver in certain possessions was just really spectacular. I don’t know if we deserve it or not, we are first but it is not over with. We still didn’t clinch first place and have work to do it. There are still very important games coming up.”