Injuries have not been an excuse for FC Barcelona, which continues to fight through adversity
Barcelona keeps turning problems into opportunities – now its all to play for in Game 4
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FC Barcelona has had a troubled season when it comes to injuries. After playing less than 10 minutes in Game 2 of his team's playoff series against AS Monaco, former EuroLeague MVP Jan Vesely returned to Barca's injury list, joining Nico Laprovittola, Juan Nunez and Chimezie Metu. Its only mid-season signing, playmaker Raul Neto, played just three minutes and 33 seconds this season.
In Game 3, head coach Joan Penarroya had three U18 players on his team's 12-man roster in Raul Villar, Sayon Keita and Mathieu Grujicic. Coach Penarroya managed to find the right response back at Palau Blaugrana, despite consecutive double-digit losses in Monaco, by doing what his team has done all season: turn problems into opportunities with a next-man-up mentality.
Dario Brizuela had never played point guard before this season and is now excelling at it. Since Nunez got injured ahead of Round 27, Brizuela has been able to distribute the ball better without losing his scoring punch, making the most out of his extended playing time.
He had twice as many assists (24) than turnovers (12) in eight regular-season games without Nunez. In Game 3, Brizuela posted 14 points, 4 assists and just 2 turnovers in less than 17 minutes, missing just one shot, and had 10 of those points in the first half, with star guard Kevin Punter going scoreless.
Punter eventually found his groove, netting all 14 of his points in the second half while also taking good care of the ball, finishing the game with 5 assists and just 1 turnover. After hitting 41.3% of his three-point shots in regular-season action, Punter is 4 of 17 from beyond the arc (23.5% 3FG) in the series against Monaco.
That said, Punter is finding ways to help his team, hitting all 16 of his free-throw attempts while averaging 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 5.7 fouls drawn.
"First and foremost, we wanted to protect home court, and it was a must-win [game] for us, so I just wanted to be focused and locked in," Punter said. "We have to stay focused, take it one game at a time."
Before Punter took matters into his own hands, Barcelona used a mammoth 17-0 run to get the lead early in the second quarter. Barca held Monaco scoreless for more than five minutes and with Vesely sidelined, Willy Hernangomez proved why he is one of the best per-minute scorers in the competition. He had 6 points in that run, joining forces with Joel Parra and Alex Abrines to put Barca ahead for good, 41-27. Hernagomez had 19 points and 10 rebounds in Game 3, giving Barca the frontcourt threat it needed.
"We improved our energy and our rhythm and our defensive situations [in the second quarter], and I think we deserved to win the game," Coach Penarroya said after the game. "It is a good result but the most important thing for us tonight is to rest well and prepare for the next game. The playoffs are finished when a team arrives to three wins."