Israelis in Berlin:
In the last decade, many Israelis have moved to Berlin.
Because of the prices of the Milky Way, for the serenity and art, for the freedom and acceptance of every person wherever he is, and also to find a better livelihood.
Last summer, two Israeli basketball players also moved to Berlin.
They were looking for a place where they could better realize their talent potential, because their Israeli teams had become pan-American, with almost no Israeli affiliation, and they felt they had reached a glass ceiling that they could only break elsewhere.
Indirectly it was also to improve livelihoods.
And the truth is that the strong and exciting performance of Tamir Blatt and Yuval Sussman, and their crucial contribution to Alba Berlin's victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv, managed to take out of me the immortal sentence of JFK: "A man between Ayn Berliner".
Because on a night like this, I'm Berlin too.
Americans at Maccabi:
And especially when it happens right after the national team's victory over Poland.
Seeing Maccabi come up with five foreigners, creates an extreme contrast, and basketball is completely different, especially one that evokes less emotion.
Over the years, Maccabi Tel Aviv has traditionally boasted that the best Israelis played for it.
She also made sure to sign every senior Israeli, if only he would not play for another team.
Where are the days of Mickey and Mutti, Ketchup, Doron, Nadav and Gur?
From the height of my age I remember that basketball was smarter and more beautiful, but maybe I'm a little more romantic and sentimental in that regard.
Last night the Israeli team played only two Maccabi players, who do not play in Europe anyway (Jik Cohen and Yiftach Ziv), and mainly starred other players who preferred not to play for Maccabi, but to look for success elsewhere (Makal, Madar, Ginat).
The fact that Alba's Israelis played 4 times more minutes and contributed 14 times in the index than Maccabi's Israelis is a piquant detail, but one that indicates the depressing trend of turning Maccabi into a team whose connection with Tel Aviv is loose and tentative.
Yuval Sussman guards Angelo Cloiaro, Photo: From the official Euroleague website,
Prince:
In the last three years, although he has progressed each season, there have been many rumors about Tamir Blatt's ability to play in the big leagues, and perhaps hinted at his royal family pedigree, and his etrogation by Oded Katash, both in Jerusalem and in the national team.
And here he chose to go alone to Berlin to deal with the dandruff and perhaps even his own demons.
And there is nothing like a game against Maccabi to produce a promotion.
And it did not go easily.
As one who knows Scotty Wilbkin he tried to forcefully pass through blocks, but got stuck for half a second, was late and snatched two threes.
On the other hand he handed out five assists that opened the gap, knocking out three of the logos as if he were in the youth league, or perhaps disguised as Trey Young.
But his legs still did not move fast enough, and Scotty took him to the basket and lowered him to the bench.
And from that moment on, Maccabi is back in the game.
But only almost.
Because then came Yuval.
Jubilee celebrations:
After two critical threes he scored and actually closed out the game, and a moment after a big block on Zizic that caused steps and a ball loss, Yuval Sussman could no longer resist.
So much frustration accumulated in him, in the star of our youth and reserve team, who tried in vain to advance through the Maccabi bench, and had to move to Berlin to realize dreams and actually play in the Euroleague, to be a significant part of a good team.
So much steam was released in his shoulder blast to James Nanley.
Some energy erupted there, spiced with endearing trash talk, and marking silence for the audience.
And how symbolic it was into Nanley's shoulder, the one who plays on his position at Maccabi.
The heart opened, and it changed for us.
And really for the better.
Tamir Blatt guards John Dibertolomao, Photo: From the official Euroleague website,
Training level:
From the first moment, Maccabi looked like a less trained team.
A very basic attacking game, based on position and miss from chim, dribbles and pick and roll.
NBA-like, aptly for an American team.
The defense was also very reactive and not proactive.
A bit like the Israeli team, Maccabi arrived complacent and smug, as if confident of its victory.
Lack of intensity, without energy and connection, and with general apathy as if victory would come by itself.
Evidence of a first offense only in the tenth minute, and in the last quarter only in the eighth minute.
Unwise three-pointer defense with over-assist, allowed Erickson to grab a hand and break records.
And as in the case of Mustafa Pal, and before the meeting with Walter Tubares, Maccabi showed that it does not know how to deal with elephants in color, this time in the form of the monster Komadges, who drowns standing up.
Instead of squeezing the moral and the ball, try to climb the mountain.
go go Israel:
Against Alba Maccabi's area did not know what to do, and continued with the stenciled pick and roll and throwing threes.
Yannis stands and jumps the whole game, running from side to side and sweating like in a sauna, as if he does not trust the players to the end, and does not believe in what he managed to convey to them.
And in extreme contrast, Alba coach Israel Gonzalez dares to sit most of the time.
Lets players play, here and there gets up and comments, but produces trust and confidence, and all in silence and with a smile.
It helps to smile when you score 15 threes at 50%, and also when you have a coach on the field like Luke Sikma, as smart as his dad and an example of an American reinforcement player who is really worth bringing.
Then the smart coach finally bought me, because two seconds to go he sent Blatt to ask for a replacement, to take down Sussman to get the honor of a winner.
He felt his actor, and realized that this was a special moment for him.
go go Israel.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
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