Real Madrid has reached to its seventh EuroLeague Final-4 in the last 11 years. Pablo Laso’s squad resurgence to the upper part of the EuroLeague rankings has been combined with the hiring of the veteran head coach.
After failing to make the Final-4 last season, Madrid was able to bounce back as Laso created a team, which would dominate in the paint. The size was the main weapon for Los Blancos having two players in the Top-15 in rebounding, while the Spaniards led the league in rebounds per game (38.3).
More importantly, Laso build a culture based on great defense and fun-to-watch basketball, a tough combination to achieve in the eyes of the average basketball fan. Real had the seventh-best offense in the regular season averaging 79.3 points per game. The number went up to 88.6 points per in the playoffs, where the Spaniards swept Maccabi Tel Aviv (3-0).
Despite ending the regular season in a disappointing note finishing with eight losses in the last 10 games. Laso prepared its team for the postseason, and Real changed its gear with three dominant performances against the red-hot Maccabi Tel Aviv. Los Blancos kept Maccabi —one of the best offenses in the second part of the season—under 80 points.
According to EuroLeague.net, “Laso ranks second this century in EuroLeague victories per season (21.4), fourth in total victories (235) and fourth in winning rate (69.3%). At the Final Four, his winning rate of 58.3% ranks second and his 7 total victories third.” The ACB giants.
After winning the last Final-4 to take place in Belgrade back in 2018, Real Madrid will hope to repeat history. While Laso built his success on elite point guards the previous years with Luka Doncic, Sergio Rodriguez and Sergio Llull, this season he changed the recipe. However, the result remained mostly the same.
Real signed Yabusele, Poirier, Hanga and Deck adding length and size to a roster of high-quality players. Rebounding, shooting and defensive effectiveness were the three main reasons the ACB giants have reached the 2022 Final-Four. Madrid became focused and gritty, but, remained a team that play attractive team-basketball leading the league in assists per game (18.3)
The team also was among the best teams shooting the ball from deep with Causer (45.5%), Yabusele (40.8%) and Heurtel (40%). Real shot the second-most threes per game on 27.1 attempts, shooting almost 36 percent (8th) from beyond the arc. Laso has built a team culture that combines winning and exciting basketball this season.
The Spaniards will meet arch-rivals FC Barcelona in the semi-final on May 19. Barcelona won the two regular season games, but, the final phase of the competition is a different story. Pablo Laso and co. will need to test their new recipe in a high-stakes win or go home game against the Catalans.
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