Barça appear to have finally found their stride. After a somewhat uncertain start to the season, with results fluctuating as could be expected from a team featuring eleven new faces, Aleksander Sekulic’s side are now enjoying their best spell of the campaign. They have won six games in a row, including four consecutive EuroLeague victories, following an impressive 90-93 road win over Hapoel Tel Aviv. The performance once again highlighted the team’s growing collective strength. Beyond the results themselves, there are reasons for optimism: Barça are finding different ways to win and becoming increasingly less reliant on individual performances from their star players.
There were several standout performers in their latest European victory. Darío Brizuela led the way offensively with 22 points, delivering a particularly decisive performance in the second half. The Spanish shooting guard once again showed that he is in excellent form and capable of stepping up when games get tight. His scoring ability has never been in question, and if he can become more reliable in clutch situations, he could develop into one of the team’s most valuable offensive weapons.
Alongside him, Justin Robinson continues to make strides. The point guard scored 20 points against Hapoel, extending the outstanding run of form he has shown over recent games. His ability to score, push the pace and take charge in key moments is giving Barça an extra dimension on offence.
Inside the paint, Josh Nebo is arguably the man of the moment. The physically imposing centre finished the Hapoel game with 12 points and 10 rebounds, recording a double-double that perfectly illustrates his importance to the team. His physical presence, ability to dominate the paint and impact on the offensive glass give Barça valuable second-chance opportunities and help offset any struggles from beyond the arc. Nebo has clearly established himself as the team’s starting center, moving ahead of Olek Balcerowski, who had initially enjoyed more playing time. He is beginning to live up to expectations and looks increasingly like a key piece in Barça’s ambitions this season.
Tyrese Martin also deserves special recognition. Without necessarily grabbing the headlines, the American forward has been delivering a hugely valuable level of consistency. He contributed 11 points and six rebounds against Hapoel. His athleticism and, in particular, his work on the boards make him a player capable of making an impact in several different areas of the game. He is exactly the kind of player that helps build winning teams, and if he can become more consistent offensively, he has the potential to develop into one of the best small forwards in the competition.
Perhaps the most encouraging development for Sekulic, however, is that his team are now capable of winning without Kevin Punter firing on all cylinders. Against Hapoel, the former Partizan guard managed just nine points in Sofia. In the five previous wins during Barça’s current streak, he had scored 13 against Unicaja in Málaga, 18 against Valencia Basket in the EuroLeague, 23 on the road against Bayern Munich, six against Casademont Zaragoza and 17 in Milan.
Although the Bronx native is gradually looking more comfortable within Sekulic’s system after a slow start to the season, the fact that Barça can keep winning even when Punter is not at his best is excellent news for the Slovenian coach. Robinson and Brizuela’s scoring, Nebo’s dominance inside and Martin’s hard work are helping to build an increasingly recognisable team identity. Barça have now established themselves in the EuroLeague playoff places, and their recent performances suggest there is plenty more to come.
Six consecutive victories are undoubtedly an encouraging sign, but the team’s progress will face a significant test next Friday, when Barça travel to Athens to take on Panathinaikos. Before that, they will host Río Breogán on Sunday in the Liga Endesa. The trip to Athens will provide the perfect measuring stick for a Barça side that appear to have turned their season around and are beginning to look upwards.