Goodbye regular season, hello Playoff. The Liga Endesa has its final day today with several issues still to resolve at the top of the table. The definitive order of the eight teams that will compete in the championship series starting next week is yet to be determined. Dreamland Gran Canaria is one of those affected. Currently seventh, with the same number of wins as Joventut, sixth, they need to win tonight (8:00 p.m., M+ Dep3) at the Arena against UCAM Murcia, who are fighting for ninth place with an eye on participating in European competition next season. They also need to wait and see what Penya does against a now-pressure-free Unicaja.
Another issue being resolved today is who will be Granca’s opponent on Monday when they start the Playoffs as visitors in the quarterfinals. It could be Tenerife La Laguna or Valencia Basket, both vying for second place in the standings on this final date.
Moreover, for another less known reason, it is important for Dreamland to defeat Murcia in their attempt to climb a position in the table. Jaka Lakovic revealed during the preview: "First, we are going to concentrate and focus on this last game of the season, in which we are playing for sixth or seventh place. It’s important not only because of the Playoff or the opponent we might face, as the second and third places are also up for grabs, but to secure the highest possible position and give the club the luxury and option to choose the European competition they want to participate in next year – either play in the Eurocup as always or perhaps switch to the Champions, a possibility that is gaining traction for the next season."
Clearly, the Granca coach, when asked before the match against UCAM about his preference between Tenerife or Valencia as opponents, said: "I have thought about it, but the truth is I have no preference. Both are great teams that have had very good seasons. Since I can’t choose, there’s not much sense in answering the question."
With a clear mind in the Playoff
Jaka Lakovic mentioned that a victory over Murcia "would keep us confident, which we have gained in recent weeks." "The team is doing well and is physically prepared. In the two days we have left before the Playoff – it starts on Monday – we don’t want to be sorting out post-match issues and looking at errors; we want to have a clear mind and confidence to prepare for the Playoff," argued the Slovenian coach of Granca.
Regarding tomorrow’s opponent, UCAM Murcia, he warned that "they always play very physically, at the edge of fouls. "It’s the team that commits the most fouls due to their style of play, they are also the best defense in the League, and we need to be prepared for a demanding game in terms of physicality and intensity," he analyzed.
As for the threats from Murcia, he highlighted "their perimeter shooting with Hakanson and Dylan Ennis, who are having an excellent season, Radebaugh and Kurucs, who can also play a lot inside, and their interior game with Birgander and Radovic, who have a strong presence, along with Gates at the four."
