Maccabi Tel Aviv returned this morning (Sunday) from the Yanakopoulos tournament and the squeaks could be heard from Athens.
However, no opinion on the team, which has undergone a revolution, will be complete until Lorenzo Brown gets involved.
In other words: it means nothing until Brown arrives.
The new European champion with Spain will start training with the team at the beginning of the week after not flying at all to the tournament in Greece.
Brown is not another good player who needs to be integrated, he is the pivot of the team, the man who will manage it and to a large extent will determine how the yellows will look.
His combination with Wade Baldwin will be the key to the entire season.
Therefore it will be possible to judge her only when he joins.
From his disadvantage on the weekend in Greece, one could only learn how important he would be.
If until now they were waiting for Brown, now they are eagerly waiting for him.
The tournament in Athens is the peak of Maccabi Tel Aviv's preparations.
This is the place where the team faced the top of the Euroleague (Milan and Anadolu Efes).
From this tournament she could begin to learn not only how she looks in relation to the top of the factory this season.
So far it doesn't look good.
Rafi Manko.
Will the Israelis be a factor at all?, Photo: paobc
Maccabi lost both games.
Both ended with a single-digit difference, but during them the team was about 20 points behind.
Oded Ketch's team did not have Brown, but their opponents also lacked key play managers: Kevin Pangos in Milan and Shane Larkin in Anadolu.
It is clear that the connection is far from perfect, but first things can be learned.
For example, two central links in the forward positions Bonzie Colson and Jarel Martin.
They were the main question marks before the season among the long list of foreigners and after the two games it can be said that it will take the two quite some time to integrate.
They will be the main players that will be under a magnifying glass.
Martin and Ketch.
That's not it yet, photo: PAOB
What we have seen and will see, probably also in the European arena - lack of dominance of the Israeli staff.
The way Maccabi was built, it will depend a lot on the defense because of the great athleticism in its squad.
Playing and half the grade in this area would have failed.
In the second half against Anadolu it looked different.
Lorenzo Brown.
As long as he gets down to business, photo: FIBA
This half is something to build on going forward because of the lineup that played for the most part.
In these minutes, Maccabi Tel Aviv showed something of its defensive potential.
Ketch placed the team high with the centers Josh Niebo and Alex Poithers made it difficult for the Turkish opponent, the level of absorption decreased significantly and this defensive ability caused the ability to go into a passing game.
Apparently, Ketch already has a first type of lineup that will fit certain minutes in the season.
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