Dribble, 26.3/Video editing: Gilad Man Mannheim
1. The team that didn't score 70, the team that didn't score 95
"In the face of any text - however professional and/or critical - that will be written about the Israeli teams from now until the end of the war, the extenuating circumstances clause should be activated and everything should be taken with a limited guarantee and in a healthy proportion... Maccabi Tel Aviv looked off, rusty and scattered, just as you can expect From a group that went into exile and lives in uncertainty. This is a human loss that betrays an impossible reality."
Five months ago, Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted Valencia. It was her first appearance after the terrible massacre, while the State of Israel remained bleeding, shocked and sad. Unsurprisingly, she lost 75:66, and these are the things that were written here the next day. But so much has changed since then, at least on the sporting level.
Yesterday (Wednesday) the Yellows recorded their 50th game of the season; That evening was and remains the only one where they stopped under 70 points. Their wandering journey continues, and they can still only fantasize about the noisy and indulgent Elijah. And yet: Valencia again, again in front of empty and desolate stands, and this time they scored 95. Something like this happened to the Spaniards this season only three more times in 58 games.
Illustrates the change that Maccabi Tel Aviv has undergone. Antonius Cleveland/Walla! System, Ehrle Weisberg
2. In, in, and if possible - a little more in
Maccabi came to the rematch in Belgrade knowing that it had to play for one advantage, or as the spiritual among us would say: find its center. Valencia's two leading pivot players, Brandon Davies and Bobcar Toure, are sidelined - and seemingly, the conclusion is simple; Play in, in and in. And if possible, a little further inside.
seemingly. Last week, without Davis and with some Toure (he returned from injury too early, and ended the season after a few minutes), the Spaniards fouled Serge Ibaka of Bayern Munich, took one basket from him in 20 minutes, and won by two points; Two days later, Monaco scraped a win against them by a point, and its three centers made six field goals. together.
Maccabi Tel Aviv traveled to the ring (or almost to it) on every occasion. Unlike Bayern and Monaco, the two centers in yellow, Josh Niebo and Hasiel Rivero, finished the game with 25 points, 15 rebounds and 11-for-13 for two; The team as a whole closed the evening on 31 of 46 from that range. And it shouldn't be that surprising. Nevertheless, it is not a historical or seasonal record, nor even a monthly record. This is the same Maccabi that on February 29 hit 33 of 40 against Alba Berlin.
The Israeli champion crowded the ranks mainly in the second quarter: in these ten minutes, she hit 9 out of 10 from inside the paint area, and threw only three balls outside of it. Coincidentally, or not, it was her most effective quarter throughout the evening, and she beat Valencia 18:27.
But when talking about the control under the basket, there is a certain injustice towards Nivo, because the most athletic center in the Euroleague lives above the basket. He has already scored eight games in a row in double figures, and in each of them he reached at least five rebounds; In the last five rounds he even hit 17 of 20 from the free range. 85% Tabin and Tekilin.
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Rare photo: Josh Niebo on the ground, in the connection between the floats/Official website, Djordje Kostic
3. Who said Joe Thomason isn't influential?
From the bench, Roman Sorkin watched what was happening, and realized that the standard for excellence in his team had risen since he was injured. At the beginning of the week he showed sparks under his minutes limit in Kiryat Ata, and last night there was no place for him to make a renewed debut in the Euroleague. You can understand why. Oded Ketch brought new elements. When Nivo looks like this, and when Ribeiro scores 27 points in 27 minutes against Valencia and Bayern, then the center position is pretty much closed and locked for now; And it's not just her.
One minute and 16 seconds into the fourth quarter, Valencia got closer to 71:63. The Maccabi Tel Aviv coach called a timeout in the hall, and naturally returned from it with Wade Baldwin and Nivo - and also with Jake Cohen. Number 15, "the brain" for you, only had time to play another two and a half minutes. During this time he scored a basket, handed out two assists, stopped the Spanish momentum and gave his team a 66:78 lead from which there was no way back.
And there is another element that was created in the last month and a half. The Bulldogs line-up, which brings effective pressure on defense every time, built-in advantages in attack and never-ending athleticism on every side and every step: Baldwin next to another guard (usually Lorenzo Brown), Antonios Cleveland at the small forward position, Nivo under the basket - sorry, above him - and Bonzie Colson as a power forward Forward.
Cleveland is worth lingering on its own. Yes, we too have already attached the word "flop" to his name, but the man is blossoming and undergoing a fascinating change. He was shifted, as mentioned, to position number 3 only. His share of minutes jumped by 65%, and stands at 19.5 in the last seven games; He upgraded by 66% the number of points, by 115% the number of rebounds, by 100% the number of assists, by 75% the number of steals and... hold tight: 224% his weighted index.
Beyond these simple-but-amazing data, his improvement stands out in regards to making decisions in the attack, and understanding what he is supposed to, can and should do (and what not). Since the last loss to Anadolu Efes, Cleveland is hitting 72.7% on twos (16 of 22, Eddie Tavares is invited to envy), 38.4% on threes (24.1% before) and 85.7% from the free throw line. He less often goes on adventures, and takes only the right and appropriate shots for him.
Thanks to this introspection, Cleveland deserves the renewed credit and late boom that took him from a sure-fire exit candidate to the classic role player. And yes, there may be something to do with the fact that he started to feel puffiness in the back of his neck; After all, everything happened for him 48 hours after the announcement of the signing of Joe Thomason.
As if 24 years have not passed: Oded Ketesh again prays for the victory of Jeliko Obradovic over Olympiakos/Reuven Castro
4. Tel Aviv is waiting for Partizan, Zalgiris, Eps and Bayern
Maccabi Tel Aviv's place in Playin was already guaranteed last week. So is the place among the first nine. Tonight she will be able to lock herself into the top eight (meaning: get two chances in the play-in to advance to the quarterfinals), and maybe even in the top 7 (meaning: winning one of the two "home" games on the way to the next stage). In a certain situation, she will even allow herself to fantasize about a place in the top six (ie: a direct ticket to the playoffs).
So as a service to the fans, here is the map of their interests for this weekend's games in the Euroleague:
A victory for Zalgiris Kovna over Olympia Milan:
such a result may take Milan out of the promotion fight and break it before its meeting with Maccabi in the lockout round.
Bayern Munich's victory over Barcelona:
If Barca loses, the Yellows come to it next week knowing that they have a chance to match them on the balance sheet.
Victory of Partizan Belgrade over Olympiakos:
in such a situation, Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Greeks will hold the same balance. She will still remain behind them, due to the double loss in the direct meetings, but Olympiakos still has another visit to Belgrade (against Red Star) and a giant battle with Fenerbahce in the last round.
A victory for Anadolu Efes in Vitoria:
will guarantee Maccabi a place among at least the first eight.
Villervan's victory over Monaco:
not sure that it will have a particular effect (and not sure that it is realistic at all, yes?), but it will further degrade the Mike James into the cauldron of the ranking struggles and create a mess in the matchups.
A victory for Elba Berlin over Fenerbahçe in Istanbul:
as in the case of Olympiakos, will lead the yellows to the same balance as their rival from above. Can we build on it? Apparently, less.
Virtus Bologna or Panathinaikos?
Here the picture is less clear. A Pau victory could (depending on the result in Vitoria) guarantee Maccabi at least seventh place already tomorrow; A Bolognese victory could bring the Kechis closer to the battle for entry into the top six.
More on the same topic:
Maccabi Tel Aviv in basketball
Valencia in basketball