Another poor football offer forced me to try my luck in other sport. This is the only game about what I have any opinion. So, this is the second match, also will be played in Barcelona. Then two in Vitoria and maybe fifth in Barcelona. Three wins are needed for final-four in Berlin 01.05.-03.05.(I'm wondering why there). First game at Palau Blaugrana Tau (un)surprisingly won 84-75. I watched the second half that hosts performed too nervous, simply didn't have the clue. Navarro scored 17 points, while Ersan Ilyasova added 14 points and 12 boards.
Tau played very aggressive with fast transition and many easy points. The whole game their win wasn't in doubt. Argentinean Pablo Prigioni stepped up for Tau with 5 triples, 17 points in total. He also handed out 8 assists beside that. Igor Rakocevic scored 15 and William McDonald followed with 12. Visitors have the chance to be just a win away to make it to its fifth(!) straight final four.
I don't believe Barca will loose two tight games on home court. In the group stage they made maybe the strongest impression from all teams. Navarro is highly motivated killer and 17 points is just very bad day, expect from him to wake up and to win tonight's game (c'mon mate!). Another reason for Barca is visitors best player Igor Rakocevic(18.4 points per game, 1 three-pointer away, very often MVP of the round). I remember him from days when he was playing for Crvena Zvezda. He became a much better player since then (of course), but one thing stays the same. Against the outsiders he hits 50 points like a big star, but in the bigest games he doesn't have his day and usually buries his side (something like Riquelme in football). It is a question of mentality and it doesn't change. My bets (small stakes, of course) are: home handicap win (han. is 3.5 at 888), Barca will pass to final four and Barca will the champion (he-he).
