Farewell song, perhaps: Should Maccabi Tel Aviv give up Scotty Wilbkin?

He's one of the best guards in Europe, but his dependence sometimes hurts the Yellows.

They have a hard time finding the right combination for him and achieving, but it is doubtful if they will be able to find a replacement at his level.

After four years together, the champion and star reach a crossroads

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01/06/2022

Wednesday, 01 June 2022, 14:15

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We ticked off: Today's Summary Clip, 1.6 (Sports 1)

"There will not be a lot of money-time games that Scotty Wilbkin will not be good at, and when there is a game like that, you expect the guards next to him to raise their level. It did not happen."

With these words, one of the senior Maccabi Tel Aviv officials chose to summarize what happened to the Yellows in the second game in Herzliya, where the big star got stuck on seven points - and the team faced a heavy defeat that ended in 16 points and a third decisive game, tonight (Wednesday, 21:00) Menorah Insurers.

Wilbkin's gaps between positive and negative games in the 2022 playoffs are significant: in wins he scores 18.2 points more than losses, and delivers another 1.3 assists.

Throughout a long period of the season, there was a feeling when he was not good, or when he was less dominant, Maccabi wins - and this has often happened in the Euroleague.

In practice, in the decisive stages in Israel, this is very far from reality.

A loss to Herzliya will conclude a fourth season for the American Guard.

He has a guaranteed contract for next season, with his exit option in a very high amount;

It is estimated that if one of the continent's riches (and its Turkish citizenship may have much significance in this regard) does not decide to riot and sign him for two million dollars or more, he will also open the next season in Tel Aviv.

But in light of the dismal results and achievements, especially in the European arena, when the Yellows did not meet their goals in almost every four years with him - the question arises: Is it time for Maccabi to say goodbye to the big star?

More on Walla!

Half their lust in their hands: a brief history of the decisive game in Israel

To the full article

Connected to the fans, and the fans are connected to it, but what about some Final Four?

Scotty Wilbkin (Photo: Bernie Ardov)

"Wilbkin is the most important player at Maccabi, the most expensive at Maccabi, and he has been there for the longest time with Angelo Cloiaro, and of course it is impossible to compare them," says former team coach Zvika Sharaf.

"So, when it comes to the crucial parts of the season, it's clear that everything will start from him. He's supposed to be a leader, pull the team after him and fail to do so, certainly in away games. He has a big part in everything, but I do not want to blame him. All teams focus on him "All the defensive attention, to paralyze and get him out of the game, with help and double-ups, a lot of offenses and aggression, and he needs to get help from the others."

"His ability to score without range, to penetrate to the ring and also to stay in the air is one of the highest in European basketball," analyzes Molly Katzourin.

"But he is also not a player whose defensive side is his ticket. If he does not contribute on offense, he creates a problem with dominant players like Chris Bab on the other side. He gets shots from situations he creates for himself in a passing or one-on-one game. "For him during the time of Yannis Sapropoulos, and not producing for him today, with Avi Even. I can not blame him. The team as a team, the players and the coach, are responsible. With his numbers and performances - you can not come to him with complaints. He shows commitment and is connected to Maccabi."

Although the former coaches of the Yellows defend Wilbkin, Maccabi Tel Aviv does not completely clear the player, and around the team claim that in many games he was the one who missed the decisive ball and made wrong decisions in moments of truth.

"There is a difference if you get to the difference point and take one last ball, or get to the 20 point difference. You can not clear the other players or him. The defense directs other players, and the question is whether to take advantage of that," says Sharaf.

Guards came and went, and almost no one was able to complete the star in an ideal way.

Walters and Dorsey (Photo: Liron Moldovan)

Jeremy Fargo, John Dibertolomeo and Kendrick Ray.

Knight Walters, Tyler Dorsey, Aaron Jackson and again Dibertolomeo.

Chris Jones, Dorsey and Dibertolomeo.

And this year Keenan Evans, Yiftach Ziv and Dibertolomeo.

These are the teams that Maccabi Tel Aviv decided to try and adapt to Wilbkin in each of his years in the team.

Common to these players?

Most of them were after their peak, or anonymous at the high European level.

Maccabi have never tried to place a real star next to him.

For many, the best period of Wilbkin and the Yellows was near Walters in the 2019/20 season, but it was actually a very short period of time that passed until the quarterback was injured.

Bottom line, apart from that season that did not come to an end, and except for the significant momentum after the dismissal of the Russian teams this season, Wilbkin's Maccabi Tel Aviv did not meet its tasks.

"The team did not achieve extraordinary results with him, and the sequence of championships is a matter of course when talking about Maccabi Tel Aviv," Katzourin agrees.

"There were a lot of games where he forced things and took on himself by force. Not all the responsibility on him, because on the bench there is someone who has to tell him what to do. Just as a coach depends on the player, he also depends on the coach, who will find the right method and the right things for him. "To lead a ball and they wanted him to do everything, did not help him. When his name still carries a ball next to him, as with Evans, it took away the pressure of managing the game and allowed him to produce more points."

In the end, he always has to produce for himself.

What is the role of the coach?

Wilbkin with Avi Even (Photo: Danny Maron)

Katzourin is convinced that Maccabi should keep Wilbkin.

"There are not many players like him in the Euroleague market - proven and experienced players. When you give up something, you have to think about what they bring in. It will not be easy for Maccabi to bring a player with that ability. It has to build the team on him. If you want to get the most out of him, you need to bring him a coordinator who fits his qualities, and find the man on the lines that suits a method for him.

"Mention all kinds of candidate candidates in recent times. If you take one like Xavi Pascual - he took players to Zenit St. Petersburg, combines them and makes them look better than they are. In the years that Maccabi was successful, it had coaches who took out more than the sum of its parts. It did not happen. Maccabi needs a creative coach. Wilbkin is not a problematic player. He is very committed, there is a sympathy of some of the crowd for his presence here. Every year they commit suicide by finding a position as coordinator and fall. It's easy for a Scot and a coach to come or not. "

Sharaf, too, despite criticism of the team building, thinks Wilbkin should continue in the yellow.

"Building a team is much more than Scotty, and much more than adapting players to it. It's a more complex job, a harder job, and it's clearly not the first year or the second year that Maccabi has not succeeded in that, to say the least. Coach authority, professional, defensive and offensive demands, style of play. It's not just throwing him or leaving him.

"The fact is that Wilbkin is ultimately a very senior player in his position.

Like having good and bad with Mike James, and good and bad with Vasily Mitchic and Shane Larkin.

It's true that a lot depends on him, but it's not just him, but the team around him, the inside players next to him, their level and the game intelligence of the others. "

Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and it also depends on who is placed next to him.

Wilbkin vs. Shane Larkin (Photo: Danny Maron)

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The only thing Wilbkin has maintained throughout his time at Maccabi Tel Aviv is the championship title.

The guard managed to lose three state cups at Maccabi and did not reach the Final Four of the Euroleague, but he maintained his success every year he wore yellow, when he usually appeared at his best for the decisive games in the local arena.

Maccabi Tel Aviv admitted this week that losing a championship could cause bigger changes than they are currently planning.

"We are going to a summer of a lot of changes, but at the moment the status of Wilbkin and a few other players is stable," says one of the club's members.

"Should we lose to Herzliya or lose the championship in the final? Not sure it will change that, but it will surely cause more thoughts."

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