Valencia Basket-Real Madrid: a decisive league double-header gets underway
The leaders, who need to do the same as Unicaja to finish first, visit La Fonteta tonight and host Baskonia on Sunday (9:00pm CEST).
LaLiga Regular Phase comes to an end this weekend with the last two games of the ACB League. Real Madrid, one win ahead of Unicaja, will be looking for their 28th win tonight against Valencia Basket. The aim is to finish in first place, which they could clinch today if they beat Valencia and Malaga lose at the Palau Blaugrana a few hours earlier. Llull could reach 600 LaLiga appearances for Real Madrid tonight.
Madrid are depending on themselves and that is the best news. Our team is in a great moment of form. They have eight wins since 11 April in Kaunas, four of them in LaLiga. Facing them is a Valencia Basket that has secured a playoff spot but not their position. They are fourth but tied with fifth, sixth and seventh at 20 wins, although they could finish third if they win both and Barça lose both. The Taronjas are unbeaten on their home court in the last five games.
The game will be a physically demanding one in which we will have to show once again our strength as a team, as we did against Coviran Granada, where seven players finished in double digits in scoring and PIR. Our opponent stands out for having very physical and fast players like Jones, Inglis, Davies, Ojeleye, Toure, Pradilla or Harper. They are a team that defends very well and can be very dangerous from three-point range.
Full house this season
Madrid have won all four games played against Valencia Basket this season: one in LaLiga (83-74, two in the Euroleague (73-76 and 96-86) and in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey (95-76). Two names stand out in these games against Valencia: Campazzo and Tavares. The point guard averages 15.2 points, 7 assists and 23.5 PIR, while the centre averages a double-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 20.5 PIR. Tonight, let's go for the fifth.