Crvena Zvezda crash out with a crash out in Barcelona
The end of Crvena Zvezda’s Euroleague season was limp, directionless, and left a lot of questions for next season. For all the talent on the roster, there was clearly something missing on Tuesday night against FC Barcelona. Their Euroleague season ended on a whimper and Emmet Ryan sees a need to reshape mentally.
Granted, it wasn’t exactly ideal for Crvena Zvezda that Will Clyburn made his first six three point attempts for FC Barcelona. Still, the circumstances that enabled that and, with it, their exit from Euroleague this season merit assessment. There were too few points in this game where this looked like a team aware of what exactly was at stake.
Who’s the boss?
Crvena Zvezda don’t lack leaders. There’s Nikola Kalinic, Chima Moneke, and Codi Miller-McIntyre in their starting rotation alone. All of these guys get the spirit and grit required to contend at this level. What was missing on Tuesday night was someone willing to take charge in the moment rather than defer.
You even could argue that Zvezda had the Catalans beat when it came to culture guys on the floor. What the Blaugrana didn’t lack was men willing to stand up and take charge. First it was Will Clyburn, then Toko Shengelia. Kevin Punter is never shy about showing he’s the boss. Even Willy Hernangomez had moments where he decided it was his time to push it.
The lack of individual drive from Crvena Zvezda in this was concerning. Codi Miller-McIntrye had his moments, sure, but they were fleeting. Throughout this game, and all too many of Zvezda’s Euroleague losses this season, there wasn’t anyone who roared “I got this” with their play when the going got tough.
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This was it
The final score was kind to Crvena Zvezda. It felt awfully similar to their regular season finale at Real Madrid. They kept in reasonable touch on the scoreboard for most of the game. Like that game on Thursday, there was rarely a moment it felt like they could actually win it.
That gave FC Barcelona room to breathe and relax. While the Blaugrana have improved since Xavi Pascual’s return and are only really now at full fitness, they shouldn’t have been given those moments. There was no point during the off times for the Catalans that it felt like the Belgrade club could reel them in.
That meant that when Barcelona went on their final run to close out the quarter, they were able to open up a big gap. At the half, it was 47-33. Surely, with their Euroleague season on the line, a fired up Zvezda was coming out from the locker room? Instead the hosts got two quick scores and the visitors had to spend an early timeout.
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Don’t let the final margin fool you
The final scoreline of 80-72 makes it look like there was a valiant comeback attempt by Crvena Zvezda. This was not a side that went down fighting. There were a few blows here and there but nowhere near the order or energy required to ever get back in the battle.
The nadir was in the middle of the third quarter. There was a wing three made, unguarded, by Tomas Satoransky. The ease with which he got open while facing no D showed the lack of focus from the visitors. This was an elimination game in Euroleague and nobody was hustling to their assignment while trying to mount a comeback.
So, yes, there’s some dignity for Crvena Zvezda in the final scoreline. For the season they looked capable of, that will be of cold comfort. This is a good roster, one that was capable of making the playoffs on paper. On the court, there just wasn’t what was needed to get it done.
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