EUROLEAGUE FINAL FOUR 2013 (Men) Real Madrid

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Euroleague Final Four 2013 Real Madrid

Team Characteristics

A great recruiting job has been done with this team matching profiles of the starters and the back-up players coming from the bench, they complement each other well. The spirit of the team comes from the bench with workaholics like Reyes and Slaugther. This team brings a lot of heart and speed on the court. The speed of Llull and Fernandez is combined with the great vision and passing of Rodriguez - a deadly threat to all opponents. One could say that all set offense focused teams have no chance to compete with this team at all.

Transition

This team believes in fast breaks like no other team, even to the extent that they don’t focus on the secondary break. Llull could be referred to the fastest player in the Euroleague and his coast to coast penetrations create many and one situations. In every situation possible to push the break one player is already in front of the last man of the defense. This creates many 1 vs. 0 layup situations. Note that this team even runs breaks after made baskets and especially after missed free throws. Mirotic should be mentioned as a great option in the low post as the first trailer. If they run a secondary set they will just run a pick & roll but rarely as an early pick, but rather as a set on top of the key.

Transition - Fast Break

Transition - Secondary Break

Offensive Tendencies

They are the run and gun team in the Euroleague. They have many special options for quick hitters and they are very dangerous in end of game situations. In set offenses they use classical sets like the Diamond and Horns. Players like Fernandez, Carroll and Llull are very dangerous in baseline exits and the curl of Fernandez is outstanding. Those three players need to be chased from behind in all off ball screens. So every screen is already creating defensive threats to the opponent.

Set Plays

Diamond: This set is used for Fernandez and Carroll and they execute it to perfection, with either catch & shoot, curls, penetrations or kick out and drop passes to the teammates waiting outside or center inside. They rarely need to give the ball into the low post to execute on this set.

Screening series: Same as the Diamond set this screening series has its purpose to get Fernandez or Carroll in scoring positions. The only difference is that the entry starts with a high entry and when Mirotic or Reyes are witnessing a defensive mistake they will look to punish right away.

Zone Offense

They will align to fill the weak spots of the zone and they have a lot of player movements off the ball. The high post is the position that should distribute passes and break the zone. They will look to get the ball to Begic in the low post when he is one the court. The shooters are very dangerous from outside. One player to highlight as the most outstanding shooter of this team is Carroll. With such shooting abilities combined with their rebounding efforts, you shouldn’t be playing much zone against them.

OB Plays

They use most of the time the same set within one game. This set can either be used for long screening series, for quick hitters or even in end of game situations. If nothing works Rodriguez or Llull will call for a pick & roll. Fernandez is their go to guy in out of bounds plays and they look for him most.

Defensive Characteristics

They play defense with passion and bring emotions into the game. All opponents should be mentally stable and ready to fight for each centimeter on the court and especially in rebounding. This team is also ready to play several kinds of alternative defenses and uses them for short durations of time during a game, with great efficiency. Since most players are great in their horizontal movements in defense they are not having many problems in defending one on one penetrations.

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