When games are played on the field or courts, people who do not understand, believe that skills alone are the determinants of the outcome. The real truth is that those are not the only determinants of the outcome of games. When a team believes they have a statement to make, when a group of people believe their integrity, pride, and loyalty to a course is at stake, they give everything. Do not pray to fight against a man who gives everything. He will win even the strongest ever. The will wins fights more than skills and strength.
The question is, are we experiencing such situation in the ongoing sports activities happening in Spain at the moment. The real Madrid football club is actually not having its mojo since the beginning of this season. But, was that the reason why they lost to Girona in their first 2017 La Liga meeting. Is it tied to the fact that the Catalan club wanted to make a statement as it concerns the ongoing row between Catalan and Madrid. Football is different from politics, yes. But we cannot separate the two completely.
Should we say that footballers are not allowed to have political views and to have this inspire them when they are on the pitch? That would not be possible. Of course, everybody who cares to know understands that the very huge rivalry between the Real Madrid and Barcelona FC football clubs is down to the political differences of Madrid and Catalan. The level of determination to win and make a name, and the pride that follows it whenever the two meets, cannot be over emphasized. Girona was actually the first Catalan club to play the Madrid club immediately after the secessionist region conducted the referendum that the center never supported. They rose to make a statement that they cannot be cowed.
Is this what played out again on the 12th of November between the Real Madrid basketball team and their Barcelona Lassa counterpart? That game was to be the first ever classico of this season, and it took place at the WiZink Center. The game was one that the Whites dominated from the onset, and the best odds were in their favor to win. But do not underrate a team that has something to play for, instead of playing the game as just another game that needs to be won. The Barcelona Lassa basketball team was perfectly decisive in all their moves. They knew what they wanted and what the needed to do to achieve victory. They were accurate at the time it matters and took advantage of those decisive minutes.
The Whites are on top of the league before the game. According to basketball betting tips, players like Rudy (10 points), Reyes (8, 10 and 19, and Doncic (20 points, 10 rebounds and 19 PIR), put up commendable performances. It took Madrid just four minutes to garner 15 points in a blistering start to the game. The offensive was led by their insiders, because Campazzo shut out Heurtel completely. However, with the game being on an even run, the first half ended 19-18 in favor of the Whites.
The Catalans, however, interchanged the lead with the Whites all through the second quarter. While the Catalans were doing great from the inside, the Madridistas were taking their gains from the outside. The half started with Tumic being so domineering. He ended up raking up 7 points in the first minutes. While this was on going, Oriola was being blocked by Rudy in a very impressive manner, and the crowds were very ecstatic at the sight of that. When the break happened, the two teams were tied at 45-45.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-red-metal-258004/
With little changes in score as the game progressed, defense became the order of the day at some point. However, Moeman, rose to the occasion, garnering 7 points at a stretch and handing his team the advantage they so craved for. This made it 55-61, and handed the Catalans a +6 lead. The home side reacted almost immediately and leveled things at 61-61 as the game went into its last quarter.
However, Barcelona went ahead as the game drew to an end with 8 points from Sanders and 6 from Navarro. But Madrid came back to level again, and even went 77-75 when Carroll made a three pointer, just three minutes before the end of the fascinating encounter. This opened the game and made it anybody’s game, and I bet many people who predicted Barcelona to win started shivering at this point. But the game is not over yet and rightly so, Barcelona took accuracy to the next level while the Whites missed their 3 pointers. The visitors made it 78-81 a few seconds to go. Real Madrid struggled to level again, but couldn’t achieve that this time, only for Heurtel to drop the icing on the cake to take the game to 80-84.
These wins are not the type we can describe as thrashing. They are just narrow wins. But when you look at the stats before the games, and the efforts put in to achieve them, you will realize that it is all down to a mindset of standing up for what you believe.
Leave a Reply