By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
“Friday the 13th” was unofficially remade in Palau tonight since Barcelona massacred Panathinaikos to begin the new EuroLeague season in a more than impressive fashion. And if there was one Blaugrana player that operated like a Jason Voorhees-type of butcher, that was Kevin Seraphin.
The 26-year-old center lived up to his “French Savage” nickname by brutalizing his opposing big guys and registering a new EuroLeague career-high in the process: 24 points with impeccable shooting (9/12 from the field, 6/9 from the line).
It was a prolific enough output to tie the overall career best he had set back in 2012 when he helped the Washington Wizards beat the Orlando Magic 93 – 85.
The French center also grabbed 9 rebounds, blocked the ball thrice and dished out 2 assists during the 23:54 he stayed on the court. A complete absolution for his four turnovers.
Seraphin made the most out of the passes he was brilliantly fed by his teammates, moving excellent off the ball and being at the right place at the precise time to fill the basket of the Greens and inflict all sorts of game-winning damage again and again.
That’s why he gave credit where credit was due in his post-game comments. “I feel pretty good. I’m just trying to stay focused and keep doing my thing. My teammates, the point guards are searching for me. It’s easier to play that way. Last year was so and so, so we’re trying to make this season something else,” modestly said Seraphin.
The 24 points he posted surpassed his previous EuroLeague career high of 15 that he had notched in 2011 when he briefly joined Baskonia during the NBA lockout. He had then helped the Basques take an 81 – 79 victory over Olympiacos.