Even in the worst moments, the Palace was always the best of refuges. Guarantee of competitiveness, almost a sure bet of victory. It also happened last season with Sergio Scariolo. The twisted dawn of the Euroleague for Real Madrid, three defeats (Dubai, Istanbul against Efes and Sofia against Hapoel of Tel Aviv) as it was not remembered, he felt relief at home, a peaceful night at last, a rival, Partizan, tamed from the beginning and minutes to lick wounds and begin to take off. Without too much shine, but some of the promised chaos, at last. [86-76: Narration and classifications]
More liberated players, mechanisms that can be sensed already in the process of flowing. Triples, although not as many (3 of 14 in the second half) as expected from the Pedro Martínez style, the one who fell in love with in Valencia. Round trip success. And the first game over 100 points of the season, without extra time, which continues to resist. Against all this, Joan Peñarroya's Partizan, called to survive in the Euroleague (one of the most modest budgets) despite its powerful start of three wins, could offer little opposition. Hardly the power of Carlik Jones, a true talent.
Those from Belgrade lasted an assault. Andrés Feliz's triple on the horn in the first act was a blow that destabilized them. Because they were on their way to conceding a 12-0 run that didn't stop. When Jantunen made his debut, the only one of the whites left to score (Gabriele Procida did not play a minute and captain Llull, Schulga, Sarr and the injured Deck were left out again), the distance was already abysmal: 45-26.
Peñarroya, who has the merit of having contained the tidal wave of Zeljko Obradovic's hasty goodbye at the end of last year in a club as volcanic as Partizan, was overcome by demons. It was pure helplessness against a Real Madrid team in which everyone joined the party. Nick Smith Jr., the last to arrive, was especially engaged in the initial stretch. 22 years old, a diamond in the rough from the Lakers, whose ability to adapt to this other basketball can take him, well guided, to the heights.
The rest did not sit too well with Real Madrid. First a 2-11 start, then a little closer (60-54) an enraged Partizan - like its numerous fans spread across the Palace stands, what fervor - that managed to stop the local offensive flow. It was time to start over, to lose one's hair again. Triples cost. And the distributed offensive responsibility was striking, a symptom of the new times. Campazzo was the first to surpass ten, with 32 minutes of play and already 79 points for the whites. His triple (hitting the top of the board, plus impossible suspense) was the beginning of the end for Partizan. Maledon, unstoppable lately, the player who seems to have best understood what Pedro Martínez demands, joined the party.
It was not a good outcome either, the thickets were the norm, although the Balkans did not manage to get close enough to scare. The first victory of the season in the Euroleague after four games, the first game of the seven officials with some slack. Everything has a process, but it does not seem that this Madrid is yet on the take-off runway. Next season, Sunday in the Endesa League, also at home, against Manresa.
