Opening conditions: In the last two weeks, when Maccabi Tel Aviv was shut down, the Israeli basketball world followed mainly Hapoel Holon, and its survival in the Champions League. Maccabi Tel Aviv over Olympiacos, and not only because Maccabi veterans (Guy Panini, Freddie Bourdieu, and coach Guy Goodes) starred in Holon.
And not just because the recent victory released a traffic jam and created waves of joy among the fans.
But mainly because both teams have arranged something fundamental in their game following a crisis.
In Holon it was the replacement of the frightened coach, in Maccabi these were two months without a victory in the Euroleague.
The forced break because of the Corona suddenly opened up an opportunity for Yannis Sapropoulos to get back on track, to show that he understands the club's DNA, and like Guy Goodes in Holon, Sapropolos did it through defense.
Yannis and his actors.
On behalf of the defense, Photo: Alan Schieber
What is protection: but what does it actually mean?
This means that all five players are committed to defense all the time, throughout the seconds, and do not give up at the founding moment of the attack.
That everyone presses the ball, that everyone interferes with every delivery, that in front of every shot there is an outstretched hand.
Who enter into the soul and breath of the aggressor and make him miserable.
That everyone puts a body on the rebound and everyone jumps on every lost ball.
Sounds simple, but the thing is perseverance throughout the game.
And this is what dried up the Greeks, and led to the big gap in the end.
You simply discourage the opponent, who understands that you are mentally stronger than him and physically ready for him.
Signs of protection: And you can give them signs: First of all, the replacements come because of fatigue and not because of mistakes.
There is nothing more beautiful than a player who wants to be replaced because he has no air.
Then you see that the opponent improvises on offense, and fails to get to his game.
Olympiacos players took a lot of shots that they do not even try in training, because of the extreme situations to which the Maccabi defense brought them.
Good defense produces a light attack.
Williams and Žižić. Everything suddenly looks different, Photo: Alan Schieber
And so thanks to the defense, Maccabi managed to snatch, run, and score in a passing game.
eschatology.
Even if the attack is not so connected, the defense is socially social, because in it everyone contributes and feels equal.
And in addition, honor judges.
Every border whistle went in favor of Maccabi's more aggressive defense.
For every two fouls you might be whistled for one.
Then start really enjoying the defense, helping the Greek, and it's contagious.
Scottish roll player: Maccabi plays better basketball, even if not more efficiently, without Scotty.
This must be felt when he is not leading the ball, but leaving the ball to others.
This is already an axiom that has been proven for three years.
But all of a sudden we saw a lot of interesting moves: a game on Caliro in color against Dorsey.
Ball movement with dedication.
Nanley scores a three in the aisle (no shame in admitting a mistake and returning straight to the top five. Yaffa Yannis).
Wilbkin and Dibertolomeo.
The ball should go to Keenan, Photo: Alan Schieber
And even a special shooting exercise for Wilbkin, who although he felt artificial and Scotty missed, was even exciting to see, because it illustrated a profound change in attitude.
Wilbkin needs one dribble to reset the hand.
Or get the ball out of the point, with the face to the basket, rather than at an angle.
Okay, they'll work on it.
The most important thing is that Wilbkin turned this game into a kind of role player, still very senior, that went up and down as needed, leaving most of the time the craft of concentration to Keenan Evans.
Take Keenan Command: Evans and Žižić's production and roll is better precisely because Evans does not commit to anything.
He plays at the same slow speed that is sometimes annoying (even in an outburst he runs slowly), but helps him help confuse the defense, not knowing whether to get on it or cling to Žižić.
Next Yannis will add Scotty free for shooting on the other side.
To divert Wilbkin from the ball is Maccabi's ultimate goal by the end of the year.
This will finally free Evans to lead and take more, and remind us of what and why they brought him.
And Maccabi will be released to look like a modern basketball team.
And yet, Yannis is very pleased with Scotty for his participation in the team game, the effort on defense, the paragon on offense, the assists and the lack of insistence.
Ante thanks the judge.
A bouquet of flowers also for Regev Fanan ?, Photo: Alan Shiber
Ante Žižić: And now everyone is standing and shouting in Rafi Ginat's voice: "No. 4 - Regev Fanaanannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. His giant after the injury at the start of the season.
Extreme improvement in agility and speed.
Quick first step, agile second jump, weight reduction and improved flexibility.
Fine motor skills and Guard's being on a 2.11 body.
And this is an actor who worked for three years with the physiological team that also treated LeBron James in Cleveland.
But there, as in the NBA, he was loaded with weights and put on weight to make it look like the original Big Z (Zidronas Ilgauzkas who played in Cleveland when LeBron came to the league), rather than the new Ante Z.
And he had to be injured at the beginning of the second season at Maccabi, so that Regev Fanan, Avi Even and the player development team would take the unnecessary mass out of his body and the mental weights out of his head.
Regev Fanan.
Extreme improvement in Ante's agility and speed, Photo: Alan Shiver
A change on an artistic level and a high degree of difficulty.
Like the change it takes from Populus to keep building, to keep this season alive.
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