Coach Penarroya took advantage of the last few days to create a winning game plan
Barcelona found new ways to attack Monaco's defense in Game 3
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3 Minute de lecture
FC Barcelona came into Game 3 of its best-of-five playoff series against AS Monaco knowing that it was win-or-go-home time. In Games 1 and 2, Monaco protected its home court with consecutive double-digit wins in the principality to take control of the series – and it looked almost unstoppable for large portions of both contests, too.
Heading into Wednesday night, Barcelona knew it needed to raise its intensity and capitalize on second-chance opportunities. In Game 1, Barca outrebounded Monaco 30-39, pulling down 13 offensive rebounds, but coach Vassilis Spanoulis's team limited its opponent to just 18-of-36 two-pointers (50% 2FG). Barca finished the game with 11 assists and as many as 18 turnovers.
Barca won the battle of the boards against Monaco in Game 3, 32-27, pulling down 14 offensive rebounds, but was way more effective in the paint at Palau Blaugrana. The hosts made 26-of-42 two-pointers (61.9% 2FG) and found a go-to guy in Willy Hernangomez, who was everywhere.
Hernangomez had 7 offensive rebounds in Game 3, hitting 8-of-9 two-pointers. In the two previous games in Monaco, Hernangomez averaged 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and a PIR of 5.5 in less than 10 minutes per night. By finding a new offensive weapon, Barca managed to balance its offense and everything flowed better.
In Monaco, Barca combined for 15-of-43 three-pointers in Games 1 and 2 (34.9% 3FG). With Hernangomez being a constant threat in the paint, Monaco was forced to double-team him, and Barca was smart enough to circulate the ball really well. The hosts finished the game with 21 assists and just 8 turnovers, hitting 12-of-26 shots from beyond the arc (46.2% 3FG). Monaco shot the ball really well (62.5% 2FG, 48.1% 3FG) but took nine less field-goal attempts (68-59) with the same exact number of free-throw attempts (15) than Barcelona.
"We have another opportunity on Friday to keep going in this series against a great, great team, so we are going to keep working and try to beat them again here at home," Hernangomez said after the game. "It's going to be super tough, but we are able to do it, for sure. I was trying just to give my best to help the team. Whatever the coach needs me to do, like all year, I try to do my best."
Long story short, Barca found a go-to scoring threat in the paint, took a better care of the ball and earned the right to stay alive against Monaco.