Smith Jr. out of the trip to Vitoria due to discomfort

The American guard Nick Smith Jr. will not travel to Vitoria for the match against Kosner Baskonia on game day 8 of the Euroleague, scheduled for this Tuesday, October 27, at 21:00 hours. According to COPE journalist Pilar Casado, the player is suffering from discomfort in the sole of his right foot which prevents him from being available. The information was shared on social media, where Casado explained that Smith requested to be substituted during the game against Lleida, held on Sunday, when he felt the first signs of discomfort. Although Eurohoops reported the news, it is a development shared by the press and not an official statement from the Madrid club. Uncertainty also surrounds his participation in the match on Thursday, October 29, against Fenerbahçe at the Movistar Arena.

Real Madrid arrives at its best moment

Smith's absence comes in the context of maximum competitiveness for Real Madrid. Pedro Martínez's team is on an eight-game winning streak across all competitions, four of which are in the Euroleague, and maintains an average of 95.3 points per game in the European competition. This offensive performance is particularly remarkable: in six of those eight wins, they surpassed 110 points, indicating a scoring phase for the white team. Against Maccabi, Real Madrid set its historical record for three-pointers in the Euroleague with 21 shots made from beyond the arc, demonstrating an offensive capacity that exceeds expectations.

Real Madrid's current record in the Euroleague stands at 4-3, after overcoming a challenging initial phase in which they lost their first three matches to Dubai Basketball, Anadolu Efes, and Hapoel Tel Aviv. Since then, they have won against Partizan, Olimpia Milan, ASVEL, and Maccabi, solidifying an upward trajectory that places the team in a competitive position. The performance of the point guards is fundamental to this project: Theo Maledon leads the team with 14.6 points per game, followed by Andrés Feliz with 12.7 and Facundo Campazzo with 10.6. This distribution of scoring from the playmaking positions reflects the playing system implemented by the coach.

Baskonia seeks to turn its situation around under Perasovic's direction

Facing them will be a Baskonia that is going through a different moment. With a record of 1-6 in the Euroleague, the Vitoria team has achieved its only victory at the Buesa Arena against Olimpia Milan. Velimir Perasovic has just taken over the coaching staff of the Vitoria team and has already requested reinforcements after the defeat in Valencia. Additionally, the team faces the absence of Tadas Sedekerskis, which complicates their situation in the continental competition even further.

The history between both teams in the Euroleague favors Real Madrid by 13 victories to 12, indicating a balanced rivalry in their matchups. However, Perasovic has made changes which, according to Pedro Martínez, have significantly improved Baskonia's competitiveness. In the pre-match press conference, the Madrid coach acknowledged: "I believe they have improved a lot in their competitiveness with the coaching change. They are very solid defensively and are a very physical team, and on their home court, you should expect the best basketball possible." This assessment highlights that, despite a poor start in the Euroleague, Baskonia presents a robust defensive proposition that can complicate Real Madrid's game.

Continuity and consistency as objectives

Pedro Martínez insisted on the need to maintain the level shown in the last eight games. "We are doing quite well in the last eight games, and we need to keep it up," commented the coach, emphasizing the importance of not relaxing despite the good moment. Alberto Abalde, in statements provided by the club, reinforced this message: "We need to be prepared also for when our accuracy drops, to keep playing and continue finding plays." This perspective reflects the maturity of a team aware that success requires consistency beyond offensive streaks.

Double European matchday and immediate future perspective

The match in Vitoria opens a double European game week for Real Madrid, which can be followed live on Movistar Plus+. After the game at the Buesa Arena, the whites will face Fenerbahçe on Thursday, October 29, at 20:45 hours at the Movistar Arena, corresponding to game day 9 of the Euroleague. This double confrontation in just 72 hours requires careful management of the available roster, especially considering the absence of Smith Jr. and the uncertainty regarding his availability for the second commitment.

The news about Smith Jr. came after Real Madrid scored 122 points in their last performance in the Liga Endesa against Lleida, a game in which the team set the ACB record for three-pointers with 24 made. This context of peak performance contrasts with the need to adjust the team to the absence of the American guard. Real Madrid will need to find alternative offensive solutions to maintain their scoring momentum in Vitoria and, subsequently, against Fenerbahçe. Managing these two weeks will be crucial in determining the solidity of the Madrid project in the Euroleague and its ability to compete without all its available players.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Smith Jr. fuera del viaje a Vitoria por molestias