AXA FC Barcelona

As for all sports competitions related statistics are very appreciate because they permit to know exact records and any other details of all participating players. Basketball is one of the important sports where players can achieve different records in each match and each season. As any other leagues in the world, ACB Basketball League in Spain, where a lot of foreign players (specially from USA) play in each team of this category, the statistics are quite relevant. We are going to have a quick look to these statistics refereed to Play-Off of this competition.All figures refers to one single match of Play-Off. Points: 43 – David Rusell (Estudiantes, 1987)3 Points Shooting: 10 – Cicho Sibilio ( FC Barcelona, 1986)Blocks: 8 – George Singleton (Manresa, 1994) and Derrich Alston (Manresa, 1998)Rebounds: 21 – Arvydas Sabonis (Real Madrid, 1993) and Fernando Romay (Real Madrid, 1987)Steals: 14 – Andres Jimenez (Joventut, 1985)Assists: 13 – Michael Anderson (CS San Fernando, 1996), Elmer Bennett (Tau, 2001) and Andre Turner (CS San Fernando, 1996)Another important individual title along the regular season is the MVP (Most Value Player) and the last five winners have been: Juan Carlos Navarro (Barcelona, 2003/04 and 2005/06 Seasons), Luis Scola (Tau, 2004/05 Seasons) and Marc Gasol (Akasvayu, 2007/08 Season).

After Day 24 matches Barça is in fourth position at ACB League (17 wins and 7 defeats) and needs to improve this situation to obtain the best practical but also theoretical advantage at the play-offs when regular phase concludes on 9th May. The table at the regular season is commanded by Real Madrid (20-4) followed by DKV Joventut (18-6) and Tau Vitoria (17-7), the same than AXA Barça, when only 10 matches must be played before play-offs, of which Barça will play 5 at Palau Blaugrana. So the challenge for Barça is to improve their position in the table and approach as much as possible to the top. This seems possible because since Ivanovic (the severe coach) left the club most of the players are performing better and obtaining better figures.
At the Euroleague, and after Day 4 and 5 matches, Barça has been able to maintain the basket average in front Unicaja Malaga and Lottomatica Rome. In Malaga a last gap basket from Carlos Cabezas give Unicaja the win (62-61) but 64-62 Barça win in the Palau. In Rome and after having 7 points advance at minute 36 Lottomatica win (68-63) but far from 86-57 Barça win also in the Palau. In Rome it was AXA Barça’s third defeat in the Top 16 (two wins and three defeats) but has maintained the favourable basket average over both Unicaja and Lottomatica. So, the final match of this phase against CSKA in Barcelona will be decisive for Barça. Just a win over CSKA (already qualified) in this last match would automatically qualify AXA Barça for quarterfinals and the possibility to reach the Final Four phase to be played in May 2 and 4 at Community of Madrid Sport Palace.

AXA FC Barcelona will play in Group G of Top 16 phase together with CSKA Moscow, Unicaja Malaga and Lottomatica Rome and knows it is time to give its best from now on. The team overcame injuries and a slow start to finish third in Group C of first phase right behind Panathinaikos and Real Madrid. Coach Ivanovic has been loyal to his style of basketball, featuring intense man-to-man defence and a patient offensive based on a rock-solid attack and the inspiration of a star-flooded defence. As such, Barcelona enters the Top 16 as one of the best teams in two-point percentage and assists. Barcelona found a reference player in Roger Grimau, whose aggressiveness, intensity and superb driving skills has allowed players like Gianluca Basile or Jaka Lakovic to get more open shots throughout the season. Lakovic has been more comfortable playing shooting guard alongside pass-first playmaker Pepe Sanchez, who has tried to keep everyone happy with his superb court vision. Players like Ersan Ilyasova and Alex Acker have not lived up to the big expectations, however, but they have the most important games ahead of them to prove all the critics wrong. Acker and especially Ilyasova have improved in the last month of competition and are ready for more. Barcelona has had a major attack reference in Mario Kasun, who was sidelined in the final regular season games. Whether he will be fully recovered or not remains to be seen. As such, experienced big man Denis Marconato, do-it-all forward Jordi Trias and especially centre Fran Vazquez have to step up right when it matters. Above all, Barcelona has a package of experience, talent, depth and athleticism that turns the team into a potential nightmare for all its opponents. Therefore by sure that for the three matches that Barça will play at Palau tickets will be sold out.