This past summer has been the hardest for Alba Berlin in recent years.
The German team, whose hallmark is stability and continuity, has lost some of the cornerstones that have built the foundation for its success in recent years.
Nils Gippy, who was not only a local hero but also the team captain and one of the most consistent players in recent seasons, moved to Zalgiris Kaunas.
Peyton Reason, who has given the team a lot of quality and composure over the past five seasons, has also left and will play this season for Dan Shamir in New Zealand.
Above all, the esteemed coach Aito Rances has left the team.
His successor Israel Gonzalez has been his assistant for many years and holds a very similar philosophy, but this is his first real season as head coach in the Euroleague.
Along with the departure of a quality player like Simona Pontecchio, the management of the German club was forced to form a completely new core of players.
Sussman in a Maccabi Tel Aviv uniform.
Consistent on the defensive side, Photo: Photo: Alan Schieber
If in the past it was relatively easy for new players to integrate in Alba because the hierarchy was clear, this year because of the big changes the task of adaptation has become more difficult.
We Israelis are particularly interested in the integration of Tamir Blatt and Yuval Sussman, whose past has raised many question marks.
So far it can be said that the two fit together well.
Sussman is consistent on the defensive side, as we have become accustomed to in recent years.
Alba's professional team places him in guarding the rival stars, and he does a good job.
But offensively it's not there yet.
At the start of the season he was tried as a key player on offense and some of the exercises were aimed at him, but 'Zus' did not produce too many easy baskets and good offensive opportunities for his team.
For example: so far he has thrown only 1.2 times on average from the penalty line, and even 40.6 percent for 2 is not a particularly high figure.
Tamir Blatt defends in the Berlin uniform.
Meets expectations, Photo: EPA
In recent games he has been playing mostly as a typical winger waiting on the sides for his opportunities, and he has yet to make the leap to be a key offensive player, which is actually one of the main reasons why he left the team where he grew up.
However, as can be seen in the attached table, he plays more, is more accurate, more moral, and in short more involved than in his previous team.
If the beginning heralds the following, one can begin to say with caution that professionally the transition has paid off.
"Sussman can be much more aggressive," says German commentator and Magenta Sport network editor Lucas Feldhaus.
"He tends to play with few risks, so his offensive influence is low. So far he has not shown more here than people knew about his game from the period at Maccabi. He showed flashes of his talent, but I think with a little more confidence in his abilities we will look much better."
Accepts responsibility
Blatt, on the other hand, has lived up to expectations so far.
At first he suffered a little from instability - a symptom typical of a young and new player in the Euroleague - but as time went on his influence grew.
As you can see in the attached table, on average per 40 minutes he scores nicely, removes a lot (Wednesday in the Euroleague), grabs and also loses - which shows involvement and acceptance of responsibility in the attacking game.
Yuval Sussman.
Choose to leave Maccabi Tel Aviv, Photo: Alan Shiber
Equally important, in two of Alba's three victories so far in the Euroleague, the young center has stood out.
Also defensively, perhaps the biggest question mark that was around his arrival in the Euroleague, Blatt is coping well so far.
"Blatt is becoming a legitimate replacement coordinator in the Euroleague," Feldhaus adds.
"He could be more consistent, but I think so far he is fulfilling the role that was assigned to him in the team at the beginning of the season."
Tonight, Alba and her two Israelis will host Maccabi Tel Aviv, and will have a good opportunity to show us all why the German team chose them as key players in its rebuilding process.
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