The first Game 5 of the 2022 EuroLeague playoffs will see FC Barcelona host FC Bayern Munich for a ticket to the Final Four in Belgrade.
Keys to victory: FC Barcelona vs FC Bayern Munich
Making threes is critical for Barca
Barcelona was the top three-point shooting team in the regular season with 41.3% and ranked fourth with 9.2 triples per game, but those numbers have plummeted in the playoffs. Barca is last among the eight playoff teams with 7.0 threes per game at 29.2%. While some of that credit rightfully goes to the Bayern defenders, elite marksmen such as Kyle Kuric (3 of 20) and Nikola Mirotic (5 of 16) can be expected to shoot better. More threes at better percentages would open the floor and allow the Barcelona attack to get the points it needs in Game 5.
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Bayern needs more scoring punch in the paint
Bayern has played excellent defense, outrebounded Barcelona by 15, committed the fewest turnovers (10.3 per game) and shot well from the line (81.8%), which are all things it must continue to improve its chances to win Game 5 on the road. However, it has not been effective scoring inside. Bayern has made the fewest two-pointers in the playoffs (14.3 per game) and done so at a subpar 46.7%. Augustine Rubit (42.9%), Othello Hunter (50%) and DeShaun Thomas (41.2%) have not provided much scoring punch in the paint and if they can do so on Tuesday, it could be worth a spot in Belgrade.