lasting
"He doesn't have money and he doesn't have gold
and he doesn't have a broad back either
and he lasts
yes, he lasts."
sitting on the fence
The talent to assemble a good basketball five is a distinct and separate ability of coaches.
I often quote the great Yehoshua Rosin who explained that everyone has a role, and especially that not everyone should score in the same top five.
It should be suitable, coordinated, connected.
But this season, as is traditional, Oded Ketch brings up the five who he thinks are the best in each position.
And it never works.
There is not a single game, even at home, that Maccabi started with a storm and ended the game early.
It is always a hesitant, sloppy, hesitant opening, until a generative event or default settles the matter.
Ketch seems to understand but is not closed in on himself, a foot here and a foot there.
The first five against Valencia was terrible.
Good players but completely disharmonious staff.
Coincidentally or not, also devoid of Israelis at all.
Oded tried to sit at the beginning of the game, but after a minute he got up.
Valencia is the worst in Europe in opening games, and even Maccabi gave them an 8:4 lead until a balanced five entered.
Hollins is one of those connection/energy/defense/ball-moving players - call it what you will.
As he entered, Maccabi hijacked twice and ran.
And that is the name of the game.
Maccabi advanced to the second quarter with three Israelis.
You can start first.
Simple - Sorkin in the top five and everything works out.
Sorkin.
Somehow everything works out with him, photo: Danny Maron
It takes time
So if Maccabi is the worst defensive rebounding team in the history of the EuroLeague (maybe yesterday it balanced out a bit with 19:7 under its basket), if it can't nearly make a basket in an organized attack, and if the fact that it doesn't have a center that can transfer a load inside, pull the defense is screaming , and deliver from there, so what's left?
press, grab, run, score threes.
This is clear and known, this is the approach that won Maccabi the successful games, yet Ketch takes his time, brings up teams that can't play like that, and only here and there does the team that presses and runs manage.
But a change is definitely evident - Maccabi presses after a basket, after a timeout, as a method and not behind, and it was a refreshing innovation.
Only this must be the basic method, not something specially prepared and only for the injured and centerless Valencia.
In an interesting study that I read in the library of the Wingate Institute during my coaching course, it was explained that quality differences in basketball are not expressed in the standing game, because in most of the games the number of points scored by both teams is the same.
The gap will be achieved by burst attacks, offensive rebounds, and penalty points.
And yet coaches insist on wasting valuable training time on attacking drills.
Maccabi has a bad and uninspired game set anyway, so come on, run Ben Susi.
Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Against Valencia it worked out, but it won't last, photo: Danny Maron
My love is not his love
The story of Hilliard's suspension and return can teach a lot about Maccabi's outdated approach to modern basketball.
Tweets and expressing an opinion are an essential part of the game today, and if you bring in a mature and creative player, you should accept him, and not treat him like a third grader.
Here was an opportunity for Maccabi and especially for Ketch to listen to a player who has a lot of Euroleague mileage, understand what is bothering him, and get free advice from someone who sees things from the field.
The way Hilliard played yesterday should not reinforce the attitude of suspending a player who expressed a different and sophisticated opinion, but explain how mentally strong and smart Hilliard himself is, and how wrong the suspension was.
His two assists for the dunks by Nebo and Martin were the turning point of the game.
And the talking shirt he wore when he entered the hall said it all.
This is the new world, let it express itself.
Hilliard.
Let him express himself, photo: Danny Maron
what is the way
So you can be happy about the victory by a significant margin, but the truth must be told: in the 29th minute the score was 49:47.
In that minute the event that changed the game happened: Baldwin's repeated hamstring injury.
One of the saddest moments in sports is when a player suddenly stops running during the game, turns towards the bench, and goes down slowly.
Actors are their own best doctors, and when this happens, it's clear that he feels something is seriously wrong.
May he be healthy and come back completely healthy.
But from that moment Maccabi ran 35:21 in 11 minutes and finished the game.
Did Baldwin interfere?
No.
He is just another player who needs the ball and creates pressure to receive it.
Wade Baldwin.
Just be healthy, photo: Danny Maron
In his absence, Jaylen Adams went up to the fourth quarter after not going through the entire game, and with one shot to the basket turned Maccabi into a pressing, running and happy team.
See above - a balanced five with two players looking for the pass has a big advantage that results in a big advantage.
Adams, Hollins, Cohen and Sorkin finished with the highest plus-minus index along with Brown.
And the player with the highest quality index: Jake Cohen.
Everything is written.
The injuries to Poyters and Baldwin are a great opportunity for Maccabi.
The hysteria and the search for new players to replace them is unnecessary.
Maccabi has a deep and quality squad, and now there is an opportunity to produce a clearer hierarchy and an accurate rotation.
Don't bring anyone.
What is important are balanced fives, pressing and running game, and correct use of the existing talent.
And this is the only way to a deliberate sound.
(Dedicated to the late Yitzhak Clifter. Thanks for the songs).
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us