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It happened exactly two years ago, when capricious destiny crossed the paths of Real Madrid and Walter Tavares. The club, in need of paint after the fatal setback of the serious injury of Ognjen Kuzmic. The pivot, depressed in the Raptors 905 of the Development League, frustrated his desire to succeed in the NBA. The play was going to be a teacher. The giant debuted the race - landed on November 10, already played the 12th classic - precisely against the same Barcelona who visits the WiZink on Thursday (9:00 p.m., DAZN) , the team that wanted him for the next course. Today Edy is the differential factor. «He is a special player. If you see him pass by, it is special. There are no such great uncles in the street, ”explained Pablo Laso in the previous one.

Also strategically. Unlike the powerful and media signings of the eternal rival, the mission in the offices of the summer of Madrid, after conquering the fifth ACB of the Laso era and reaffirming its hegemony, consisted in underpinning its structure . If Barça pulled the checkbook to sign two of the most sought-after Americans in Europe (Higgins and Brandon Davies) and recap the NBA to Abrines and, above all, Mirotic, the whites scratched their pockets to renew Campazzo and Tavares , besides acquiring Jordan Mickey to replace Ayón, Laprovittola and the last reinforcement, Mejri.

The World Cup consolidated, if there was any doubt, the commitment to Facu, when so many wonder why he is not playing in the NBA. With that of Cape Verde, an enormous economic effort was also made to place him as one of the highest paid staff , aware that he is the only one of his kind, the best named defender of the Euroleague pass. And soon it became clear again, in the good and in the bad. Its irregular start of the course coincided with the ups and downs of Madrid - three defeats followed at home in Euroleague; its take off lately, with the best white face. In Europe, where rotations are more consolidated, Tavares scored 12 points, captured 24 rebounds and put three blocks in the first five duels. In the last two, he has rendered as expected, after the odd touch of Laso: 22 points, 17 rebounds and nine blocks (plus those he claims they do not tell him) against Alba and Red Star. «You can give us many things in the game, offensive and defensive. But it forces us to play differently, to adapt to each other, ”Laso said, highlighting that its incidence goes beyond numbers. «He stays in that they put few caps and he is right. He is proud to be recognized because he wants to help the team ».

Food and physical work

"My job is to defend, if the team plays with me well, better," said the protagonist, also aware that his duel with Davies, a player who has taken the measure -27 points made last April at the Palace-, You can mark the second Classic of the course. «It is one of the pivots that are open to throw and it is a very long way to recover for me. I try to be focused, ”he summed up.

After the renewal, almost life (when they finish their five years of contract will be 32), Tavares got down to work to try to offer the best version of himself at this key moment in his career. After the summer of rest, in which he traveled to his native country where he was involved in his Campus - he himself made sure that the baskets arrived at Maio -, he understood that he had to invest in his physique and put the batteries with food. He became addicted to tupper, putting himself in the hands of the company My Totem Food, which supplies him with food suitable for his diet, zero fat. And with all that work, in addition to the physical one, he has already gained around three kilos of muscle.

And although the results took time to unleash the nervousness after the renovation, the pivot has known that this pressure was part of what it means to be in Madrid. On Tuesday he put a tweet celebrating his two years in the club, those that changed his life, from being almost in American anonymity to the European front page, on that increasingly common return trip. «You have to be grateful. It is the best club in the world, there is the story . It is a pride to be here, ”he closed.

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  • Real Madrid
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  • Pablo Laso Biurrún
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