It might be a norm in the NBA, but in the EuroLeague, pulling down 50 or more rebounds is a difficult feat.
This is due to the shorter time as the NBA allows an extra eight minutes of playing time compared to the Euroleague but still despite being in coaching for 35 years, Barcelona coach Svetislav Pesic cannot remember the last time a team that he coached grabbed 50 or more rebounds.
That was until he led his Barcelona side to a surprisingly dominant win over EuroLeague playoff-bound Olympiacos last night.
The Catalan side pulled down 50 boards, one short of their EuroLeague record of 51. Pesic was understandably happy with a game-changing statistic.
“I have been a coach for 35 years and played for 15 years, and I can’t remember a team making 50 rebounds at this level,” Pasic admitted. “Coaches dream about this, now it’s a reality.”
Of course, it was all about the team play, especially in the second half that contributed to the road win for Barca, who are lingering on elimination from the playoff race but are aiming to end the season on a high.
“It was a great game for our team with excellent concentration,” he said.
“We controlled the rebounds all the game, especially the third quarter, which I always say is a new game. Their most important player, Printezis, was our target; we know he’s the one who makes a difference with his great balance between the inside and outside game. I’m happy that we won, but also how we won the game.”
