Walter Tavares played two minutes and forty-seven seconds of Game 1 before limping off with a medial collateral ligament tear in his left knee. The most decorated defensive center in EuroLeague history, gone before the series had even started.
They won it 3–1 anyway.
The numbers show how. A 54.8% two-point percentage against Hapoel's 49.1%. A rebounding edge of 157 to 141 over four games. And the one that tells the deepest story: 81 assists against just 44 turnovers for Real, compared to Hapoel's 53 and 45. Real moved the ball like a team that knows exactly what it's doing. Hapoel moved it like a team trying to keep up.
Usman Garuba stepped into the vacuum in Game 2 — a 102–75 demolition — finishing with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. He kept the focus on his teammate afterwards: "First of all, I want to wish a quick recovery to Edy. He's one of the best teammates I ever had. Always with a good attitude, helping the team, and he's our leader."
The home court did its part too. Real finished the regular season 18–1 at home — the best record in EuroLeague history. That fortress held in the playoffs. Hapoel took Game 3 on their temporary floor in Bulgaria, but Real closed it in Game 4 without drama.
Campazzo, who scored 21 and 23 points in Real's two home wins, kept things grounded after going 2–0 up: "We didn't finish nothing yet, so we're not allowed to be happy."
He was right to stay cautious. But also right to be satisfied. A 3–1 series win, without your best player, tells you something about the depth of a team. Real Madrid already knew. Now everyone else does too.
