During the past summer, Maccabi Tel Aviv said goodbye to Scotty Wilvkin and Mante Zizic - the two key players and pillars of the club in recent years, whose departure left a professional void that the club had to fill as soon as possible.
While the talented guard was replaced by Wade Baldwin and Lorenzo Brown, each in his own field and style, the Croatian center was not actually brought a replacement that matches his dimensions.
In accordance with the new wind blowing on the lines, two athletic and defensive talls were signed, as far as east from west from the style of the great man who left.
When Josh Niebo was signed and designated to play the role of the main and only natural center in the squad, no one was surprised, because the American's qualities fit like a glove to Oded Ketch's method.
Nivo
Above the rings, photo: Alan Shiver
The coach's desire to play with two high fives, Nibo and Alex Poithers, raised question marks even before the season began.
The similar qualities of the two players created a traffic jam in the paint, and neither of them praised the shortcomings of their friend.
The injury of Poithers, who will be absent for a long period of time, ruined the cards and forced the yellows to return to the high player market and find a replacement.
Along with the unfortunate news, now, during the search for a replacement, the Yellows can try to solve some professional problems that were created precisely because of the combination between Poithers and Nibo, thus allowing the latter, whose numbers dropped significantly in many categories compared to last season, to return to presenting his known abilities.
Josh Nebo goes UP for the alley-oop👀@MaccabitlvBC #7DAYSMagicMoment pic.twitter.com/B1jMJ7ZICZ
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) October 14, 2022
Taking the situation to heart, the
most noticeable drop in Nivo's averages can be seen precisely in the category for which he was brought to Tel Aviv - rebounds.
The athletic center takes only 4.1 rebounds this season in the Euroleague compared to 6.2 last season, and Maccabi as a team holds the dubious title of "the worst defensive rebound team in the past 23 years."
In the local league, the decline is even sharper, but the minutes of play in relation to his season in Eilat were also cut in half.
In his season in the south, Nivbo produced double-double averages of 13.6 points and ten rebounds compared to nine points and 4.2 rebounds in yellow.
"I don't think there is a specific reason for my drop in numbers. I need to be more focused and take more rebounds. It's what I do well, and it's something I know I'm good at. I need to be more assertive, and it's something I personally take to heart."
"We're still early in the season, and I know I'll get better at that element as the season goes on. I'm just trying to do what the coach asks of me, not necessarily covering for Alex. I'm playing my game the way I know how, and trying to do my best to help the team win ", Nibo said.
DiBartholomew and Nivo.
Will upgrade himself?, Photo: Alan Shiver
In the first game in Poithers' absence against Hapoel Beer Sheva, the center seemed more involved, and recorded a season record in the yellow uniform in points (11) and rebounds (6), hoping to start a new path.
"In Alex's absence, I expect Josh to continue his progress. We'll have to know how to activate him. He really wants to succeed, learn and improve. Every player needs to make a leap in ability, and so does he," said Ketch.
Tonight, Nivu will have to face without his friend in the front line, and the first challenge is expected to be not easy at all.
Hesiel Rivero, the Cuban center of Valencia, who ranks second in the factory in offensive rebounding, will be waiting for him on the other side, along with Bojan Dobljevic, the veteran Montenegrin center and legend of the bats.
Now, Nivbo also knows that it is the right time to wake up.
Nivu in front of Holon, photo: Alan Shiver
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