Equality in the First Half
Barça was clearly defeated in their visit to Monaco, in the first game of the Play-Off series. The blaugrana team only managed to prevail in the first quarter, ending with a lead on the scoreboard (21-25). Kevin Punter was the man who lit the way for the visitors with three three-pointers in the early stages of the game.
The second quarter was marked by the ups and downs of both teams. Barça went through their first critical moment, conceding a 21-2 run. However, the team knew how to react, cutting the lead to 44-42 by halftime.
Disastrous Second Half
In the second half, the real breakdown came for Joan Peñarroya's team, which disappeared. Barça couldn't find answers to Monaco's physical intensity and collective play. They suffered 18 turnovers and only managed to distribute eleven assists, factors that limited their offensive capacity.
Not even the great performance of Youssoupha Fall (13 points and 14 rebounds) was enough to keep Barça in the game. In the final period, frustration became evident, culminating in the disqualification of Tomas Satoransky. The Czech lost his composure, committing an overly rough offensive foul.
In the end, a 97-80 result and the first point of the series for the locals. As a positive note for the blaugrana, the minutes of the youth players Raúl Villar and Mathieu Grujicic. The latter made his Euroleague debut.
Thinking About the Second Game
Precisely, if there's something good about the Play-Off format, in case of defeat, it's that there's no time to lament. Barça will have another opportunity this Friday to secure a victory that allows them to steal the home-court advantage. If they do, the blaugranas could play for a spot in the Final Four next week, in front of their fans.