It seems that Maccabi Tel Aviv has gone through two seasons in one season. From a state of lost season it is now with the face to the playoffs and Ofek to the Final Four. Tonight it will host Fenerbahce in a game that ends the regular season in the Euroleague. Elements not at all related to basketball and one surprising hero.
A roller coaster, as the season of Maccabi can be called.
From the lows to dreams for the first Final Four since 2014. A season that received a sudden and surprising twist, a season that is divided into two periods: until the end of February and then, when we are still not sure we are done with the drama.
Maccabi players are desperate after the humiliation against Anadolu in December, Photo: Alan Shiver
The depression
Until the change, we saw Maccabi go from fall to fall and set negative numbers on a historical level.
For example, the first quarter against Olympiacos which ended in 35: 8, the away game in Munich where they scored 52 points or the club's highest home loss - 24 points against Anadolu.
In games where she stood level with the rivalry almost until the end of the game, she failed time and time again.
She equaled the club record for a number of consecutive losses - 8, until Yannis Sapropoulos was no longer the king of Yad Eliyahu, received boos and in the home game against Vitoria - almost a third but was empty.
Basketball was bad, in the away games Maccabi did not exist, and again we saw the excessive reliance on Scotty Wilbkin.
James Nanali was already with a foot and a half out of the group, and the bunch in yellow lost confidence and looked uncommitted.
Into all of this also came a record league loss and a big hit to the ego with three losses in the derby.
Finally, Sapropoulos was fired, and the appointment of Avi Even broadcast as if Maccabi was giving up the season.
stone.
Made a big change regardless of the news from Ukraine, Photo: Alan Shiver
The tide
Maccabi was already about to conclude another season in which it did not achieve the goal - reaching the playoffs, until the last two weeks of February completely changed the picture.
During this time two things happened: the dismissal of Sapropolus and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which created a shock in the Euroleague.
The three Russian teams, all of which were in the top eight at the time, were eliminated from the factory and on the way Maccabi received a bonus - when the results of the games against them were canceled.
Maccabi jumped into the top eight in the table, and the whole story gave it a huge mental boost.
Suddenly the goal seemed very possible.
Professionally, he was probably full of metropolis and had to adapt a correct method to Maccabi's squad, and Avi Even, who has not coached at all until now, did so successfully.
Maccabi became the team he wanted and the emphasis shifted to the offensive side.
Actors began to flourish (Nanali, Yiftach Ziv and now also Roman Sorkin).
The home team came back big with victories over Real Madrid and Milan, and even away Maccabi returned to function.
The commitment is back, the confidence is back and Maccabi arrives tonight with five consecutive victories and a reasonable chance of finishing the regular season in fifth place.
Yui.
Waiting for Maccabi in the playoffs?
Playoffs
Maccabi feels that with the momentum and change, it can reach additional heights this season.
The two optional rivals, Real Madrid (higher chance) or Milan, are in bad shape, and Maccabi thinks it is possible to pass them even without a home advantage.
The thing is, there is no insurance for anything.
The momentum is on Maccabi's side, but playoff basketball is a different basketball.
Other stress, toughness and physicality will increase, and defenses will receive special emphasis.
It should be remembered that the Yellows' big improvement was on offense and less on defense.
Only with an upgraded Maccabi defense can you get through the series.
Maccabi's loose basketball can also have its ups and downs in the playoff style.
In order to rise, Maccabi will have to win outside - and there is still a burden of proof on it, despite the show in Barcelona.
Beyond that, pulling out a rabbit or two will not hurt.
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