Barça’s weaknesses are slowing the building of its new team

Barça’s weaknesses are complicating the building of its new team. On Tuesday at 20:30, Barcelona (2-2) host Maccabi Tel Aviv (1-3), seeking a third win. But at this early stage of the season, progress in their play matters almost as much as the result: the team needs greater solidity, consistency and cohesion after bringing in 11 players and a new coach.

Putting the pieces together is taking time. With so many new arrivals, combinations are still developing, helping to explain the lapses and some of the errors seen in several games. Parra, Punter, Núñez and Brizuela were the exceptions who had played together before.

EuroLeague statistics underline the scale of the task: Barcelona rank last for rebounding among the 20 teams. They are also last for assists, with 56 in total, or 14 per game. By comparison, ASVEL have 89 (22.3 per game) and Baskonia 88 (22).

A tendency towards individual play could be one factor behind another figure: Barcelona have lost the fewest balls in the competition, with 39, an average of 9.8. The numbers point to a contrast: control of the ball has yet to produce enough rebounds or collective creation. The meeting with Maccabi Tel Aviv gives Barça a chance to keep improving while pursuing a third win.