ACB Liga Endesa: Barcelona’s plan to take care of Higgins
mehe Barça shooting guard Cory Higgins has been ruled out by technical decision in four of the six official matches of the season, a policy that follows the plan designed by the club, with the player’s approval, so that he arrives in the best conditions for the stage end of course.
“We have to put four quotas and rule someone out. Our medical staff always asks me that, if possible, Cory plays as few games as possible. We have a plan, we have spoken with him and he agrees,” Bara coach Sarunas explained. Jasikevicius, after beating Cazoo Baskonia on Sunday (89-74).
The Lithuanian coach could barely count on Higgins last year, one of the pillars of the squad, away from the courts from the beginning of November to the end of December due to back pain and from the end of January to the beginning of May due to plantar fasciitis that forces him to go through the operating room.
“He is training very well, physically he is very good. It is a bit of an idea. We have to get to the second part of the season better than last year. We have to risk a bit, but we have a plan. Cory is very good”, Jasikevicius added this Sunday.
The coach’s words were along the lines of what was promoted by forward Lex Abrines in an interview with EFE on September 1, when he was asked about Barça’s downturn in the final stretch of last season and how to improve this season.
“Perhaps we have to take more care of the loads. This year’s team is aimed at that, to try to get players like Mirotic or Higgins to arrive fresher in the final stretch of the season. And with the signings we have made, do without them in some more game”, reflected then the Balearic forward.
The truth is that Higgins has participated in only two of Barça’s six official matches so far this season. On September 21, he played 25 minutes and scored 8 points in the Barça victory over Joventut Badalona in the final of the ACB Catalan League (82-92) and repeated against the same opponent in the semifinal of the Endesa Super Cup on the 24th, in the one who scored 5 goals in 18 minutes.
Higgins had been left out of the squad due to a technical decision in the first official match of the season, the victory over Bsquet Girona in the Catalan League semifinals (88-77) on September 20.
The American has once again been the one discarded in the last three games of the Catalan team: the defeat in the final of the Endesa Super Cup against Real Madrid (89-83) on the 25th, the stumble in the league debut in Gran Canaria (88 -85) on the 30th and the league victory on Sunday, October 2 against Cazoo Baskonia (89-74).
“I feel good, my body feels good. Last year was very long, there were a lot of injuries, but now I feel healthy and as the season goes on I will be even better. The chemistry with the new team is very exciting. I am very happy.” motivated”, valued Higgins himself in the Super Cup preview.