Second-place FC Barcelona (7-2) faces a major test with a trip to Belgrade following consecutive road losses to face a Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (5-3) team that has won three of its last four games.
Nico Laprovittola, Barcelona: 'I think we can improve even more'
Seasons
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 10 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Maccabi is coming off a morale-boosting home win over Fenerbahce powered by a huge double-double from Bonzie Colson (13 points, 14 rebounds). Maccabi grabbed a league-season-high 22 offensive rebounds in that game, so Barca will need its big men Jan Vesely and Willy Hernangomez to protect the defensive glass. The Spanish team will also hope that Nicolas Laprovittola – going up against Maccabi leader Lorenzo Brown – can regain his usual scoring stroke after converting just 2 of his 10 field goal attempts in last week's narrow victory over Valencia.
Roger Grimau, Barcelona head coach
"The situation is not easy for the Maccabi players, but they are all excellent players and they have found the way to get together. Maccabi has traditionally had rosters with American players who are athletic, intense and play fast. With the ball they can hurt you and they have big, mobile players."
Oded Kattash, Maccabi head coach
"Barcelona are one of the best and most impressive teams in the EuroLeague. We are coming off of two games where we had bad first halves and much better second halves. Against Barcelona it will certainly not be enough to only play one half. We need to be concentrated during 40 minutes, play with the Maccabi pride and carry the support of the fans in our hearts."
Nico Laprovittola, Barcelona player
"It will be a different game with no fans in the stands, you have to get ready for this kind of situations and winning, no matter what. We must think about the next game and think about winning. I think we are doing fine, but I think we can improve even more. Maccabi has an athletic team, the league is athletic. Maccabi plys fast, faster than us, and they have players who are in a great moment right now. We will try to counter those. It's not easy to lose a player like Jan, but we will do what we can to win."