We finish the first stage of the tournament with mixed feelings.
It's good for us, it's nice we finished with an offensive play at home, but the losses we left in Poland and Germany will probably prevent us from advancing to the World Cup, and that's the real and very realistic goal set by the basketball association for this talented team.
The ongoing game in the second half, after it became clear that both teams had already gone up, is not a real test.
At the beginning of our game an eye and a half were on the second screen, and the truth is I was hoping the Poles would win.
Not only because of the origin of my family, and not just because Sokolowski played in Holon and was named after its main street.
I really wanted to see our functioning under the pressure of elimination anxiety.
But in the end, the Estonians unleashed tension after realizing that they had risen, and we let go and ran like in training games.
Nice game to improve morale and sharpen habits, 0:20 advantage for Israel in points in the break and in the transition.
As usual in games that are (almost) protocol.
And yet there is learning and progress in some areas.
After hearing Gal Makal explain how shocked he was when he stood behind the bench for 40 minutes in Poland, who was healthy and ready to play, the realization sharpens that there was a serious setback by the professional team here, which may have overwhelmed the whole campaign.
Gal Mekel.
Had to see more minutes, Photo: Oded Karni
This team is not a team, and a veteran and important player should not get minutes according to training, not even according to his "fitness".
(Also Dennis Schroeder has not played since March due to a shoulder injury, scoring 38 points for Germany yesterday).
Especially when the other two coordinators - Blatt and Madar - did not really concentrate the game, lost balls a lot, and mostly are not leaders and do not control the pace.
They seemed to be mostly self-centered, delivering spectacular assists (blat) or braiding intricate baskets (madar).
Both have just finished long finals in Europe, and it was obvious they were unloading and not really focused.
The second Makal entered the field last night, something basic in the team's being changed for the better.
Suddenly there is a landlord, there is retention, there is a right pace, and everyone raises a level in decision making.
6 points and 3 assists in the first five minutes made it clear how much he was missing in Lublin.
A true playmaker is a rare animal, and a stick is a building for preservation.
The story of how much he improved in weekend training so played this time, is nothing more than an unsuccessful joke.
And it turns out that there is actually an advantage to hunger for the game, unlike our other stars who are a bit saturated with basketball at this point, due to the crowded board.
Guy Goodes went through three basketball seasons in less than a year.
The difficult start in the first, the surprising move to Holon, the entry into the position of national coach, the qualification for the European Final Four with Holon, the stunning victory in the championship, and in the process Windows selected.
Wow, there are very few strong coaches in body and spirit like Goodes who would even withstand such an intensity of events.
To his credit it can be said that even when he is wrong he reacts quickly and corrects, both between games and while playing.
Goods.
Passed and goes through a lot, Photo: Oded Karni
After the riots in Poland we went down to excellent numbers - we threw only 31 threes (instead of 47) and scored 41 percent (instead of 29).
This is a significant correction that has gone through the coach's insistence on switching in color with each attack.
The matter of aggression still needs improvement, and after we went to the line only twice all the first half, in the third quarter, where the game was decided - we settled there ten more times.
The main improvement was the way everyone touched the ball every attack, which allowed for easy baskets in the back door, most of them by Tomer Ginat, who is starting to remind Lior Eliyahu Pinat Omri Caspi in smart movements without a ball and color cuts.
And as mentioned also the correction of Gal Makal showed understanding and learning, hopefully it was not too late.
Tomer Ginat.
Smart movements without a ball and color cuts, Photo: Oded Karni
At the end of the game we got a stunning picture of our locker room.
All players sit with their cell phones, five minutes after the end of the game, even before the shower, correspond with friends / family, are updated.
Maybe I belong to a different generation, but it was so different and unusual.
Where is the rest and thought, where is the ice bath, where are the little conversations between them.
Maybe because it was the really last game of this season.
And next to everyone stood out one different player.
Yuval Sussman looks like a dinosaur from the previous world.
He sat quietly, staring and thinking, without a phone, without talking.
He then received a dose of protein from a fitness trainer.
Sussman is the player who most reminds me of Gal Makal, not in the style of the game but in the reference to the game.
Goes his way, chooses places that will be good for him, insists on being happy inside and playing only where he wants to.
No wonder he finished with the best numbers on the team in this window.
The highest index, the best percentages, almost without errors.
A player of a different breed.
Sussman.
Quiet and prominent above all, Photo: Oded Karni
The pair of games against Finland and Sweden at the end of August will decide whether we move to Mondobasket, and will also have a big impact on the mood at the European Championships, which will open a few days later.
Players must now find time to rest completely for a few weeks, then return refreshed and focused, and will be required to reach peak fitness immediately.
Indeed difficult and busy is the life of the European basketball player and coach, in a reality of excessive amount of games and tournaments.
On the other hand, what fun they have, working in their hobby and enjoying the road.
And if Greater Croatia has not even risen, what do we have that Nelin?
Let there be rest to the weary, and much rest to the toilers.
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