Sekulic faces his first month at Barça amid highs and lows

The bench of Barça Basket has undergone a change of guard following the consecutive failures of Roger Grimau, Joan Peñarroya, and Xavi Pascual. Aleksander Sekulic arrived alongside Xevi Pujol with a completely reconstructed team and a clear mission to break a title drought that has lasted for three seasons. However, the start has not been as expected. Joventut Badalona claimed the Supercup, the first competition held, and the pupils of the Slovenian coach have accumulated questions that are difficult to answer in these first thirty days of the 2026-27 season.

Spectacular play as the first ray of hope

The most notable aspect of this first month under Sekulic is the radical shift in playing philosophy. The blue-and-burgundy team has opted for a faster, more dynamic, and fluid style of basketball that multiplies the number of possessions compared to the previous season. This increased ball circulation and speed in attack have allowed Barça to show character and the ability to react in significant matches, such as those played against Valencia Basket and Olympiacos.

Beyond the change in pace, several secondary players have stepped up and added freshness to the rotation during the early games. Some of the new signings have shone at key moments, especially Olek Balcerowski and Umoja Gibson, who have compensated for the injuries that have marked this season's start. These flashes allow for a glimpse of some optimism about the potential of the project, although many adjustments are still needed.

Injuries and defensive fragility as major obstacles

The first major problem that has struck the blue-and-burgundy squad since the start of preseason has been the cascade of injuries. Josh Nebo and Tosan Evbuomwan were unavailable in the initial weeks, while Yoan Makoundou remains out of the team. This wear and tear in the paint has disrupted the defensive mechanism that Sekulic aims to build, exposing vulnerabilities that rivals have exploited mercilessly.

Alongside the injuries, significant defensive gaps have emerged, resulting in evident fragility. While the offensive side functions reasonably well, Barça lacks the necessary solidity to maintain intensity throughout the four quarters. When the toughness that the coach demands in rebounding and the defensive front line disappears, the team becomes vulnerable and allows very high scores. In fact, in five of their twelve commitments to date, they have permitted 100 or more points, with an overall record of 6-6 in wins and losses.

The rebounding battle is another weak point. Barça continues to lose this fight and commits unforced turnovers that rivals punish severely. The balance between the maximum demands of the Euroliga and the Liga Endesa, combined with a roster still in the making, generates painful stumbles and momentary disconnections that result in heavy losses or games where the team is trailing due to lack of energy after weeks of double fixtures.

The last defeat against Joventut as a reflection of the problems

The decisive loss suffered again against Joventut by 113-89 summarizes many of these issues. The opponent won comfortably in a game where Barça could not maintain competitiveness throughout the forty minutes. This result reinforces the feeling that, despite the improvements in offensive play, defense remains a pending task that Sekulic must urgently address.

Signings in search of their best version

The four-rotation includes Tosan Evbuomwan and Olivier Nkamhoua, a pair that must build solidity in a position that has not yet solidified. Sekulic requires more work in offensive rebounding, greater toughness in defensive contacts, and a threat in shooting after pick and pop. The execution from the direct screen also needs significant improvement.

In the paint, Josh Nebo and Olek Balcerowski have left hopeful moments, especially the Polish center. However, both must readjust to stop the hemorrhage of points allowed in the zone. Paint defense is critical for Sekulic's project to progress toward the consistency required in high-level competitions.

Tyrese Martin and Stanley Umude were added as NBA/G-League profile signings to bring athleticism and scoring to the two and three positions. Nevertheless, their main handicap so far has been inconsistency and lack of fluidity in static play. To make the qualitative leap expected from them, both must accelerate their adaptation to the spaces and timings of European basketball, gaining consistency in outside shooting and showing greater strength in individual defense.

The weariness of references like Kevin Punter is another factor weighing in the equation. The player has not been at the minimum expected level in several games, and without the constant contributions from newcomers, the rotation has been thin in recent weeks. The absences of Makoundou, the recent one of Minaya, and Sekulic's little trust in Ubal and Juan Núñez have limited the available options in critical moments.

Building a project that needs time

The first month of Aleksander Sekulic at the helm of Barça Basket reflects the contradictory nature of a project under construction. There are positive elements that justify confidence in the process: a more visually appealing game, character reactions, and flashes from some secondary players. But there are also structural problems that demand immediate solutions: continuous injuries, fragile defenses, and pending adaptations of several key signings.

The goal of breaking the title drought that has affected the club for three seasons remains possible, but it requires that Sekulic finds quick answers to the questions piling up for his pupils. Defensive solidity, the recovery of injured players, and the maturation of new signings are immediate priorities. The coming months will determine whether this project has the necessary strength to compete at an elite level in the Euroliga and the Liga Endesa.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sekulic afronta su primer mes en el Barça entre luces y sombras