Barca has qualified for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. The next goal: another Final Four appearance!
Barcelona returns to the EuroLeague Playoffs!
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After switching head coaches and losing two of its most experienced players, it looked like FC Barcelona might struggle this season, but it has been the other way around.
Barca punched its playoff ticket in Round 32 after downing Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 92-89 in dramatic fashion to make it to the playoffs for the 15th time since 2006. Barca's 22-11 record allowed it to qualify with one regular-season games remaining.
The job is not done, however, as Barca still aims for top-four finish and home-court advantage in the playoffs. The Blaugrana have a chance to make club history by qualifying for four consecutive Final Fours for the first time. After missing the big event for five consecutive editions, Barca wants to solidify its status as a Final Four regular.
So far, the first goal is met. Barca is in the playoffs. Now it has plenty of time to prepare for its playoff series and be in the right condition to earn a trip to Berlin, home of the 2024 Final Four.
La magia del Palau
Home-court advantage may be more important for Barca than for any other team in the competition. Head coach Roger Grimau's side has been very strong at home, winning 15 of its 17 games, losing only to EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and AS Monaco. At Palau Blaugrana, Barca has won games by an average margin of 11.8 points, with much better numbers than on the road.
Barca ranks fifth in scoring at home (87.3 ppg.), second in three-point shooting (39.1% 3FG) and third in two-point (58.9% 2FG) while fourth in assists (20.0 apg.) and PIR (103.9). However, it has posted lower numbers on the road, where it has a 7-9 record. Away from Palau, Barca is 11th in scoring (78.5 ppg.) and shooting the ball with poorer percentages (53.4% 2FG, 34.9% 3FG).
Still, Barca was able to beat powerhouses like Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, Olympiacos Piraeus and Zalgiris Kaunas on the road. Three of its road losses, however, were by 20 points or more.
Ricky: Barca's x-factor
It was the news most Barca fans were waiting for, as Ricky Rubio returned to the club in a mid-season transfer after more than a decade away. Rubio is back playing after battling mental health issues and has the chance to see one of the best European players of all time back in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Rubio is a very different player than the kid who shocked the world, winning EuroLeague, EuroCup and EuroBasket titles, as well as an Olympic silver medal, before he turned 21 years old. At age 33, Rubio has lost his explosiveness but retains his off-the-charts basketball IQ, passing skills and poise.
Coach Grimau has to find a way for Tomas Satoransky and Rubio to best play together. Satoransky has started in all of the team’s EuroLeague games until now, with Rubio coming off the bench; they haven't seen much playing time together. Rubio gives Barca EuroLeague-winning experience, too. Only he, Nikola Kalinic and Jan Vesely know what it takes to go all the way in the competition.
Rubio’s connection with Willy Hernangomez should be one to follow. Despite averaging less than 15 minutes over the last seven games, Hernangomez posted double-digit PIRs in all of those games. Right now, Hernangomez leads the 2023-24 EuroLeague in PIR per 40 minutes (32.4) with Vesely ranking fourth (30.0). Adding Rubio's passing skills to the mix should only make those numbers climb and turn Barca into an even tougher contender when the playoffs start on April 23.