Billy Baron’s mechanics also fixed the Olimpia Milano

The American was not the big name in Messina’s glittering transfer campaign. But he turned out to be the most reliable, lighting up at the most beautiful: on the third star there is the sign of his triples

Fourth period of game 7, every action weighs like a boulder. Milos Teodosic, from the height of his basketball genius, has just scored three fundamental points to keep Bologna’s hopes alive: -8 with four minutes to go. There is still game. Ball a Billy Baronon the other side of the field. And the American from Olimpia repays with the same coin: triple from a sidereal distance, in the face of Milos, Forum in a frenzy. Another round, another run. Baron again from beyond the arc, this time against Belinelli: inside. And again, on Hackett’s head – practically the three brains of Virtus: foul, lap to the line and they make 9 in two minutes. Now the scoreboard says 67-49. It’s done. The tricolor goes to Milan. And the decisive push to a very tight series came from the least talked about foreigner, of that roster that cost so much. Simple reason: Baron is a sharpshooter. Formidable from the dribble, surgical in suspension, lethal coming out of blocks. The real specialty of the house. And like all great basketball shooters, scoring a lot or a little during the season – in Billy’s case, just over 11 points per game – counts more for statistics than anything else.