1. The summary column this time will be about the regular season that ended last night (Monday) and will deal with foreign players from several angles.
Everyone knows who the top outstanding foreigners are - Chinano Onwako (before everyone else), Jaylen Adams, Chris Bab, Suleiman Braimo, JP Tokoto and Chris Johnson.
The question is who is the surprising stranger of the season?
Who is the stranger whose group is most dependent on him?
Bryce Washington from Hapoel Galil Elyon is the surprise.
The American Chin (26, 2.03) was the last signing of the newcomer this summer.
He came from the second league where he helped Elitzur Netanya to rise in the league (the promotion did not materialize).
It was not clear whether a foreigner from the sub-league would fit into the senior league and whether his place was there.
The answer is unequivocal: yes.
Chris Bab.
This is a class, Photo: Liron Moldovan
Washington made the leap in a great way.
He has become an important screw in the success of the team and fits in well with all the high composition that coach Barak Peleg puts up.
He is very physical (6 rebounds per game), an excellent keeper, very team, rises excellently from the bench, makes good numbers on offense (9.4 points) and also knows how to deliver.
He received the award for ability very quickly.
Contract for next season already during this season.
Bryce Washington.
The big surprise,
Hapoel Tel Aviv managed to win a derby this season without Jacoben Brown.
Despite this there is no doubt at all who the stranger whose group is most dependent on.
Jacoben is a basketball cannon and a big winner, but a player is very injured and the whole season of the Reds will rise and fall on him.
He missed 7 games this season.
It is possible that with another 2-3 games with him the Reds would have reached the playoffs from a much better position.
In the end, they finished in seventh place and will meet Maccabi Tel Aviv.
A big series against the Yellows and the big bet on his physical condition will become a success.
Jacoben Brown.
Hapoel Tel Aviv will continue to worry ?, Photo: Alan Shiber
2. It is known that during the season the teams exchange foreigners in quantities.
Let us examine what were the salient effects of the exchanges.
Suleiman Braimo is of course a great success, but a success known in advance.
He returned to Jerusalem in the first part of the season.
We knew about the qualities, the suitability for the team he played for last season, so we did not have a bet here.
In fact, Tyros Maggie, who made a similar comeback to Hapoel Holon, is still not recovering his ability from last season, even though his weight in Holon is very large.
Foreigners who arrived at an advanced stage of the season and were tie-breakers are: DJ Kennedy who greatly upgraded the Upper Galilee and was the missing piece in the puzzle and Anthony Blakeny who played only four games in Be'er Sheva, showed great offensive qualities and was the one who left her in the league,
Suleiman Braimo Success guaranteed in advance, Photo: Oded Karni
The hardest part is getting into the shoes of a successful stranger.
Quinton Hawker was a success for Bnei Herzliya, but was injured.
DJ Cooper, arrived in his place, immediately got into things and demonstrated high ability with 10 assists per game (he is not considered the king of assists in the league because he does not have enough games).
Cooper made up for the lack of a replacement player.
Hooker is now fit, but it looks like he will stay out in light of Cooper's combination and excellence.
Two other foreigners who came during the season and made a nice contribution are Tony Douglas in Eilat and Tios Battle in Gilboa.
Hooker.
Injured and replaced, Photo: Alan Shiver
3. As you know there is no insurance that foreigners who come in the middle of the road even if they are big names will be a guarantee of success.
The most notable example is James Ennis.
He came up with a mountain of expectations with an 8-season NBA record and that was far from justifying expectations, but it may have been a turning point yesterday.
Anis was excellent in Hapoel Haifa's big win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Wayne Selden returned to Ness Ziona towards the end of the season to bring her to the playoffs.
His last season was a huge success.
The success has not been restored this season and the team is out of the playoffs.
Archie Goodwin.
A big failure, Photo: Liron Moldovan
Two with a record and proven European experience came to Maccabi Rishon LeZion during the season, especially Anthony Brown.
Both he and Archie Goodwin failed miserably and were nowhere near saving the team from relegation to the National League.
Were we wrong?
Fixed!
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