Argentina teammates Facu Campazzo and Gabriel Deck are enjoying starring roles for Los Blancos.
The Argentinean takeover has started at Real Madrid
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Argentine duo Facu Campazzo and Gabriel Deck both signed multi-year contracts with Real Madrid in the off-season, even if one was a signing (Campazzo) and the other was a renewal (Deck). We are just three weeks into the new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season, but it’s clear to see that the playmaker and versatile forward are already Los Blancos’ new leaders.
Campazzo and Deck proved as much in Round 3, leading Real to a 93-79 victory over the previously undefeated Zalgiris Kaunas. Real went up to 3-0 – a record only matched by FC Barcelona, although Valencia Basket could also join them on Wednesday – and Chus Mateo’s side arguably looks like the team to beat in the early weeks of the 2023-24 campaign.
"We didn't have any big changes, you know? Only me as a new player," Campazzo said after the game. "We have to keep doing this job, going this way. I think we play in so many ways, different ways, and that makes us a very dangerous team. This is the way, so we have to keep doing that."
A telepathic relationship
Campazzo had 14 of his 18 points in the first quarter, putting Real on the right track to win the game. He finished the game with 9 assists. More than half of them, 5, were to Deck. Campazzo and Deck have been playing together for both Real and Argentina for many years, meaning they have a telepathic relationship on the court.
Deck led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-9 two-point shots, while he also hit his only attempt from downtown. He didn't get any rebound or dish any assist, but the way in which he finished plays allowed Real to get 26 assists and just 13 turnovers. Zalgiris had almost half of those assists, 14, against 10 turnovers.
Both Campazzo and Deck played around 23 minutes, combining for a PIR of 45. On his 30th birthday, Vincent Poirier came off the bench to get 18 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.
"Gaby [Deck] is starting to get the feel again. He played a good game today," Real head coach Chus Mateo said after the game. "Facu is playing at a very good level, nobody can deny that. I am happy for both of them, because they have a very good work ethic."
Real Madrid’s wealth of talent
On a day in which round 2 MVP Guerschon Yabusele was limited to 5 points and three-time All-EuroLeague First Team center Edy Tavares got 4, Real showed that it doesn't depend on its bigger stars due to its tremendous depth.
Instead, Deck and Campazzo led the way and are becoming the natural leaders of a Real side which is hoping to win back-to-back EuroLeague titles, something the club last achieved in the 1966-67 and 1967-68 seasons.