By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Barcelona organization paid tribute to the squad that won the 2010 EuroLeague championship before the game against Zenit St. Petersburg in Palau Blaugrana and then the team followed on with a dominant win as a fitting conclusion for the night.
Nikola Mirotic scored 20 points on 7 – 11 shots in just 15:27 minutes as Barca crushed Zenit 84 – 58 to capture its fifth victory in five EuroLeague games this season. The Blaugrana are the only undefeated team along with Olimpia Milano.
“Our mindset tonight was defense,” Mirotic said. “We knew it was going to be difficult and that we had to play good defense. We know this team really well because we played against them in the playoffs last season. I think everything came from our defense, because after that, our offense was terrific. We started running, making shots – it was a really good game.
Barcelona’s trademark defense made the difference in the second quarter when the hosts outplayed their opponents 24 – 8 to reach halftime up 44 – 27. Zenit was unable to react after the break as Barca established and retained a lead well above 20 points for the rest of the game.
No Zenit player finished in double figures in the team’s second-lowest scoring game ever in EuroLeague. Mateusz Ponitka was the Russian team’s top performer thanks to his eight points and four rebounds.
Barca big man Sertac Sanli returned to action after a three-week absence with 11 points. Brandon Davies also scored 11.
Not an overtime for a change
Barcelona coach Sarunas Jasikevicius saw his team making an improvement in comparison with the matches of the double-game EuroLeague week. Both games, wins over Olympiacos Piraeus and AS Monaco, were decided in the extra period.
“Well, we have to be very happy with the game,” Jasikevicius said. “I think we played very solid for 40 minutes against a rival that is excellent, that is always really prepared, and we played better than last week in Monaco and at home against Olympiacos, even than the game in Sevilla against Betis: we played better. It was good that we had a little bit of time to relax and good time to work a little bit and prepare. Now, off to another three games in five days. The schedule is what it is. Palau Blaugrana is different for the players, for the rivals (with so many fans). It gives us extra energy. We are inviting people to go back to normal, to come back to Palau. It is not easy, we are seeing the same in Camp Nou, but we are inviting people back. Unfortunately, we cannot pay the people’s tickets but we are inviting them to come. Sertac Sanli has been unlucky but is also very patient. He is back to the team, learning our systems and tactics really fast. So far, he couldn’t show much but this is a good step for him and he should be happy. We have to improve and there is no time to celebrate.”