Alberto Abalde Stands Out Under Pedro Martínez

Real Madrid appears to be on the right track early in the season under Pedro Martínez. As the team's automatisms begin to settle, the former Valencia Basket coach's system is helping some players show their previous form again.

The most obvious example is Alberto Abalde. The 31-year-old Galician wing played perhaps the best game of his career against Panathinaikos. He scored 23 points, 15 of them in the last period, and led the comeback.

Abalde's contribution is not limited to numbers. Alongside the point guard, he anchors the defense, shoots from the corners, and is effective on shots off the dribble. He is also influential with backdoor cuts and with penetration in one-on-one situations.

In the Euroleague, Abalde is the sixth most-used player on the roster, and fifth when Sergio Llull is excluded. He averages 18:21 of playing time per game, scoring 7.9 points per game and shooting 52.9% from three. Regaining his former role on defense and on the boards is also boosting his confidence on offense.