Day 21 Euroleague: Zalgiris Kaunas - Barcelona

* Zalgiris finished the first quarter with 7 field baskets and 7 assists. While some may think it is a good sign, showing the high level of execution of the coach´s playbook, others might spot a problem with that statistic. A team who scores only from assists might be also a sign for lack of individual skills. Zalgiris indeed has Euroleague´s less talented squad, with almost no players who can score from a one-on-one move. Definately not when it comes to their guards.

* Barca was leading 8-3 in rebounds after the first half. That was part of their early success in the game. When Kaunas started to get more boards, the game balanced out.

* Despite what is written in the first paragraph, one lithuanian guard was doing some great individual (as well as team) moves. Lekavicius, who came from the bench, brought a lot of energy to Kaunas´game, and orchestrated their offence. He a magnificent night with 17 points (8/8 from the 2 points range), 5 rebounds, 4 assists and two steals, one of them deep in the money time. But above all, Lekavicius took responsibilty over the game. For some minutes he looked like his coach.

* Zalgiris tried to stop Barca with auto switches and tactical fouls. Faverani used it to make points against smaller defenders, Antic did not. Bartzokas left Faverani tonight too long on the bench. He is the only center currently in Barca who can screen properly, using his wide body to keep to defending guard away. His screens were breaking down the lithuanian defence.

* Barca´s defence, on the other side, was not existing. They allowed Zalgiris 69% from the two points range. When Kauna´s players took the ball to the rim, it usually ended up with easy two. No team can win a game with such a defence. The presence of a good shot blocker in the paint, like Dorsey, is obvious.

* Five minutes to the end Barca tried a small line up, playing with Rice, Navarro and Koponen (as SF). The idea was probably to run faster, to threat from three and to open up the paint for penetrations (we know what Rice is capabale of). But Zalgiris took advantage of the mismatch in the SF position, and started every offence with Ulanovas posting up in the paint against smaller, weaker Koponen.

* Perhaps Perperoglou symbolizes Barca´s season more than anything else. A lot of potential and some nice moves every now and then, but most of the time there are injuries, bad decisions and generally a feeling of missing the edge.

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