One star dares: on the trap of Maccabi Tel Aviv with Wilbkin | Israel Today

The Yellows put the future of the team in the hands of the introverted star but today is the main limitation that binds his teammates

• Wilbkin in a typical pose this year

  Photography: 

  Alan Shiver

Scottish wedding.

Just 50 weeks ago the Corona was still just a light Mexican beer with lemon, and Maccabi Tel Aviv tore the Euroleague in its best season since the trophy with David Blatt in 2014 in an almost unprecedented move of long-term vision and organizational courage, she decided Maccabi management to sign Scotty Wilbkin on a huge three-year contract, a few weeks after Coach Sapropoulos also closed long-term. .

At the time I argued that it was not certain that Wilbkin fit into the franchise player slot, because of his introverted personality and the fact that he does not make others better.

And in a year's perspective, it can be said with certainty that Maccabi Tel Aviv and its coach are currently trapped under the same decision and captive because of the conception that only great players win games. So not players win games, but a team, To that decision.

We got an example of this over the weekend when Remas Cortinaitis was fired from Khimki, which is actually run by star Alexei Sheved. Going back to her great days? We went out to check!

The numbers do not lie.

The dry data shows that Wilbkin leads Maccabi by points (17 assists (4) and the index (16.3). It starts to go down south when checking output in wins and losses: he scores an average of 21 points in losses, and only 11.5 in wins!

We remember many games where Wilbkin missed a crucial shot, but what is really going on there?

I counted his balance from the field (shots for 2 and 3 points) in the last two minutes and in overtime in close games (those who entered the last two minutes with a single-digit difference).

The result is stunning: 6 of 17% (34) from the field in losses (10 games).

In close wins (7 games) he is much less involved in only 2-of-5.

The only two victories in which he stood out were against the Red Star and Pau.

The gaps scream to the skies and indicate a poor decision-making in the last minutes of the guard and his coach, and the need for a significant change on the way to achieving victory.

Maccabi does not win because Scotty is weak, it wins thanks to a more organized team game, and when more players come into play.

Wilbkin actually contributes to victories in assists and penetrations that lead to accurate penalty shots.

Maccabi is last in the Euroleague in percentage to three (35%) but continues to throw a lot (25 per game, sixth in the league).

Wilbkin throws 8 threes on average and scores 33% even less than the team average.

The fact that the defenses know that in the crucial moves the ball will reach him, he will dribble and then take a hard shot and usually miss, makes it easier to close the move.

But beyond numbers this is the way, it is not modern basketball, and from Maccabi we also expect to serve as a model for basketball.

Change is needed, before it is too late.

The frustration is evident in the other players in yellow.

Not only because they barely touch the ball in the closing minutes, but because they belong to a losing team, whose only would have played right regularly, was in a positive balance and at the top of the table.

And they also lose bonuses on wins.

Sussman and Hunter said it in interviews, Dorsey says it in his demeanor, and Bryant yelled it in the last game against Basconia, when instead of shelling out three room baskets and closing the game with a resounding dunk.

If there is no change, it could even create a problem for Maccabi in the summer with the continuation of contracts.

How is it that one star alone dares?

And do not need a big change.

No need to cut back on minutes, but better manage his time on the field, and decision-making in crucial moves.

Get the ball out of his hands and use Chris Jones and John Dee as ball carriers, then build Wilbkin shooting exercises at the exit of Hunter's blocks (rather than pick and roll).

It also needs another goal player, and the key is in the hands of Elijah Bryant, who shows high ability in the clutch minutes.

Maccabi is still only two victories away from its rivals in the playoffs, and will go after Real for a Turkish week that will decide the fate of the season.

Success will only come from a significant change in the order of the forces on the field and off the bench.

And all in the hands of Sapropolus.