Exactly a month ago
Here are things Oded Ketch said after the game: "The second half was exciting, we put our hearts on the field."
"The formation of four guards helped a lot and there was a lot of character."
"We played against a team that has been together for a long time, coach and players."
"One of the most exciting pitches in Europe, it wouldn't have happened without the crowd."
Well, Ketsch did say all this, but a month ago, after the victory over Monaco.
But he also said at the time: "We can't play today the basketball we'll be playing in a month."
Let's check: in both games, Maccabi fell behind by double digits in the third quarter, and came out of it in the fourth quarter with enthusiasm, steals and running.
In both games, Maccabi scored exactly 12 three-pointers with around 40% accuracy, with Baldwin scoring at least a third of them.
Maccabi Tel Aviv celebrates big in the hall with Martin in the center, photo: Alan Shiver
In both games, Maccabi won the rebound and especially controlled the offensive rebound which brought them easy points and second chances.
And in both games, Roman Sorkin and John DiBartolomeu formed a defensive and offensive anchor, were senior partners in the turnaround, and contributed about 40 minutes and 15 points together.
The correct method: submit and run to the network
So it seems that exactly one month later, despite Ketch's expectations, Maccabi is still playing the same basketball, and once again manages to beat a team of higher quality than it, when it is based on the same principles.
The question is, if it works, why not make it the official method?
And even if the method is not clear enough, it has clear principles.
Pressure in defense, steals and runs, strong walking for the offensive rebound.
Maccabi's standing game is sloppy, scattered and random, and it is better for her not to reach it.
Maccabi does not have automatic moves that everyone knows.
There are no structured movements, everything seems to be improvisations. Throughout the game, Maccabi had a negative ratio of assists to turnovers (in the first half 7-10, even at the end 15-17).
DiBartholomew celebrates another important basket, yesterday in the hall, photo: Alan Shiver
In the first half, she lived on three-pointers, scored 8 of them and only 5 two-point baskets.
She doesn't have a center that can pull a defense and pass out, she has a few infielders who also know how to get the ball out to the shooters, and she doesn't really have absolute shooters.
And so every time when Ketesh breaks free from the game plan, brings up three or four guards, Maccabi also breaks free and uses its relative advantages, and connects itself.
Because all the players are diverse, the tall ones can run, the guards know how to play in the paint, the forwards have reasonable three-point shooting.
When Maccabi is aggressive, it also goes to the line, and here is a dramatic factor: 22-24 of the penalties completely changed the game and expressed Maccabi's energy and the Greeks' frustration.
Maybe it's time to acknowledge these facts and let go of the hope for brilliant and quality basketball.
It is a problem that is difficult for the coaches to get rid of, but therein lies Maccabi's next victory.
Too many strangers and experiments
And if the first half can still be considered lenient because of the need to share minutes under the exhaustion of 5 games in 9 days, there is no forgiveness for raising the terrible five after the break.
Brown, Baldwin, Nieveau, Hilliard, Poyters?
Didn't the token fall about placing the two semi-centers together?
Isn't it clear that this is a team that can't produce anything because there is no player in the front line in his role?
Sorkin cheers himself on, photo: Alan Shiver
This five roamed the court for 6:30 minutes without making a basket!, and fell behind by double digits.
Halik, enough with this five.
John Dee and Sorkin entered 4 minutes to the end of the third quarter at minus 10. From there Maccabi ran 39:23 and tied the game.
It is already clear that Maccabi's fives must be built through the eyes of energy and defense, and not on positions and attack drills.
And this is important not only because they are Israelis, but definitely because of that as well.
As has already been written here many times, Maccabi has too many players, too many foreigners, and still at this stage of the season Ketch is busy with trial and error.
This time Adams and Hillaird wasted 12 precious minutes on the field and it was obvious that they did not understand their role.
Poyters as above, only he wasted 25 minutes. Martin in only 18 minutes contributed twice as much and was the X factor. And the mystery of Austin Hollins continues to twist - he came on in the first half and gave excellent minutes, then was frozen on the bench until Katz remembered him at the end.
Too many foreigners in Maccabi Tel Aviv?, Photo: Alan Shiver
And it's not because the players were better.
It's just a random order of trades that Katz has to make to test everyone and relieve pressure.
But we are already before the tenth cycle, and the time for the orderly hierarchy has come.
Unless this rush will also be part of the method.
Brown's decline and let's make a mess
Lorenzo Brown has been playing too much basketball since the summer, and this was proven statistically in my colleague Avi Segal's fascinating review yesterday.
When Maccabi insists on an organized game, Brown has to work very hard.
To dribble, do three and four pick and rolls in every attack, and also expect him to penetrate, score, and keep strong when going down to defend.
No wonder he is in a mental and physical collapse, and even yesterday Maccabi lost by six in the minutes he was on the field.
Oded Ketch.
Still looking for answers, photo: Alan Shiver
Brown is still Maccabi's most important player, but she must help him rest between and during games.
At least Ketch had the guts to take him off and bring in John D, the game-fixing replacement.
Brown returned towards the end and was fresh and aggressive.
But during the game I thought that maybe it would be better if he didn't go to Belgrade today, that he would get two days of rest and that Maccabi would learn to manage without him.
It probably won't happen.
But there are ways to help him.
The learning from the last month must be giving up quality basketball in favor of an organized mess.
There's a deep roster, let's use it.
We will press and run and riot, even so the 'set game' is sloppy and doesn't work out.
We will go with low vehicles but we will send two for the offensive rebound.
Are you worried about rebound?
John Dee and Baldwin grabbed more rebounds (12) than Colson, Poyters and Nieuw (10).
Maccabi must hunt, play non-standard.
And that's regardless of the audience.
Maccabi Tel Aviv players, tonight.
Another dramatic victory, photo: Alan Shiver
When it happens at home she is unstoppable, and then the intelligence is also revealed in the attack for smart little moves.
But Maccabi has not yet won away from home this season.
And she has a chance to practice her "no method" method against a team weaker than her, at least on paper.
It's just necessary for everyone to accept it and understand that this is the new approach, and be ready at any moment to get off the bench, know that they might dry out, and accept with love that the team is above all.
And the victory is applied to everything.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
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