Ibon Navarro is looking for the right formula at Unicaja’s small forward/power forward spot, and against Joventut he tried an interesting rotation between Jaime Fernandez and Olek Balcerowski. The outcome was mixed, but it sparked a tactical debate that’s sure to get people talking.

The Malaga side controlled the first half comfortably, but Joventut turned the screw in the third quarter and forced the Basque coach to rethink his setup. The inside duo delivered in the key moments, and Unicaja ended up imposing their superior individual quality.

This tactical tweak could be vital looking ahead to the Basketball Champions League, where opponents are more athletic and physical. Navarro’s versatility in defensive schemes is, precisely, one of the team’s biggest strengths this season.

The game also left good feelings about the playmaking. The ball movement was fluid, and the Malaga side proved once again that when they’re firing on all cylinders, they’re one of the toughest teams to stop.