• Larkin.The disorder that marked his childhood

When Shane Larkin left Zeljko Obradovic himself speechless at the Buesa Arena during the last Final Four, qualifying for the first time in his history the Anadolu Efes for the final of the Euroleague with a tremendous record valuation and 30 points, seven assists and seven rebounds , the immediate unknown was knowing how the Turkish team would retain their treasure not only from the paws of the most powerful on the continent, but also from the NBA itself where the base already had several attempts (Mavericks, Knicks, Nets and then Celtics).

The initial agreement of Ergin Ataman's team with his star was conditioned on the fact that no American proposal was serious enough for Larkin to give him another chance. Finally, around June, the Efes got the renovation, as Vasilije Micic had achieved before (tempted by Real Madrid). The results of this whole bet have not been slow to become apparent: the team is marching like a rocket.

Collectively, what was the revelation of the last edition of the Euroleague, has confirmed all its expectations with a start of the course in which only Real Madrid and Barcelona can discuss their absolute status as a favorite to the title they never won. " It does not go first by chance , in recent years has made large investments in decisive players," argued in the previous Pablo Laso. Individually, Larkin's deployment, far from accommodating, is as brutal as it is remembered in the Old Continent.

This is how the 27-year-old matted-haired base, son of Barry Larkin , a baseball legend that was 12 times All Star, presented tonight at the Palace (9:00 p.m. DAZN). From astonishment to astonishment, after three consecutive days being the MVP. That boy whom basketball helped rescue from the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) he suffered: he hated dirt maniacally. Despite the loss of Micic, the duel between the first two can not have more incentives, also for the three consecutive defeats (two in Euroleague), with which the targets are presented.

«I don't know if it's fun. I have more fun when I win, but they are two reference teams in the Euroleague, two teams that were in the Final Four last year, with great players and a great basketball show is planned. I would like to win and have a little more fun », analyzed the Madrid coach, who will be able to count on both Llull and Rudy Fernández - he is still down due to injury Anthony Randolph -, the latter absent precisely in the three defeats and recently renewed until 2022 .

But despite the praise of the collective (only three losses, eight home wins of nine and the second best attack of the tournament after the Khimki), Larkin's demon will undoubtedly be the biggest concern. Unstoppable in the one on one, without going any further, the former Baskonia made 29 points last week to the French ASVEL , which he also destroyed with seven assists, six rebounds and six triples (for 45 valuation). Not even that was his top of the course, as Bayern Munich scored 49 points with a never-before-seen 10 of 12 in triples. It averages 21.1 points per game, above 50% of success both in triples and in baskets of two and almost 90% in free throws. Only in two meetings of the present Euroleague has remained below the ten: the only hope for Laso was that against Madrid, in the first round, was one of them, although he won the Efes in Istanbul (76-60) after a blunt second part.

Of course, the Turks have not won in Madrid for 15 years. «Talking about stopping a team that has so many weapons is always difficult. Simon and Singleton were decisive in the first leg. You cannot say we stop Larkin ... It will be mandatory to do a good team work in general, to be able to do the little things to do them well, a help, a rebound, any situation will be important before a team that takes advantage of anything » , Laso concluded about his team's challenge on this January slope.

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  • Real Madrid
  • Pablo Laso Biurrún
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