Recap: Real Madrid vs Gran Canaria 68:95 (Sport1)
1. For an entire season, Hapoel Jerusalem built its reputation on defense and energy, on aggressive and physical play, on a clear and measured division of roles and on a character that conveys as if it will never be broken. All of those elements collapsed one by one on Wednesday night, reaching the playoff semifinals, leading to a wholesale breaking of negative records.
The horror show in the 86:55 defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv did not skip anyone. Kadyn Carrington and LeVay Randolph, two of the team's top three scorers during the season, combined for three points on a horrendous 0-of-16 shooting from the field; This is the Reds' biggest loss at the Arena, and in fact they have suffered only two bigger home defeats than in playoff history (104:65 in 1998 and 113:75 in 2001 to Maccabi Tel Aviv).
This is Jerusalem's 13th loss this season, and the following statistic will show how extreme it was: the record margin recorded in the previous 12 losses was 17, and only in three games was the team defeated by double digits.
Heading into the second half, with his team 40:23 behind, Itai Segev tried to turn on the fans and instill faith in them, but nothing helped. "There are no excuses," the captain said. "It's the first time we've broken like this this season, with bad timing. We need to understand this with ourselves. Credit goes to Hapoel Tel Aviv. I don't have answers, if I had, we would have corrected it a long time ago."
The bottom line is that the return from the Champions League Final Four can be marked as one that has turned the momentum around sharply. Naturally, Jerusalem experienced a drop in tension after the disappointment in the European final, and did not look good for most of the series against Bnei Herzliya. Yesterday it exploded in her face. However, alongside the many compliments that coach Aleksandar Dzikic reaped throughout the season for his control of the team and the achievements to which he led it, he was also tested in this dimension. And now, with almost three weeks since returning from Malaga, the Serbian has yet to inspire his players and get the ship back on track.
"If we had answers, we would have corrected long ago." Hapoel Jerusalem is stunned (Photo: Danny Maron)
Heading into the second half, with his team 40:23 behind, Itai Segev tried to turn on the fans and instill faith in them, but nothing helped. "There are no excuses," the captain said. "It's the first time we've broken like this this season, with bad timing. We need to understand this with ourselves. Credit goes to Hapoel Tel Aviv. I don't have answers, if I had, we would have corrected it a long time ago."
The bottom line is that the return from the Champions League Final Four can be marked as one that has turned the momentum around sharply. Naturally, Jerusalem experienced a drop in tension after the disappointment in the European final, and did not look good for most of the series against Bnei Herzliya.
Yesterday it exploded in her face. However, alongside the many compliments that coach Aleksandar Dzikic reaped throughout the season for his control of the team and the achievements to which he led it, he was also tested in this dimension. And now, with almost three weeks since returning from Malaga, the Serbian has yet to inspire his players and get the ship back on track.
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Jerusalem has not yet quite landed from Malaga. Dzikic (Photo: Danny Maron)
2. The events on the court were dwarfed by the shameful incident that took place towards the end, when a lighter was thrown by one of the fans and hit Amit Black in the forehead. The club will be prosecuted and punished, and once again the debate over collective punishment of a single individual will be flooded.
On the one hand, the team itself was quick to repudiate the act, condemn it and apologize to Black, and fans on social media also called for the thrower to be denounced. On the other hand, it is impossible to disconnect from the situation the stormy and belligerent atmosphere that Hapoel Jerusalem itself has created in recent weeks through the official channels. When the club itself constantly complains about the referees in a direct and blunt manner, along with engaging in rivalry and conducting public arguments with the league administration, there may also be those who interpret things in an extreme way.
The turbulent atmosphere led to the extreme act? The spark plug on Judge Amit Black (Photo: Danny Maron)
3. This is the sixth series in the ancient rivalry between the two Reds, and the first in which Jerusalemites open with a loss. On Saturday night (21:00) they will arrive at the Shlomo Group Arena knowing that a loss will end an excellent season for them in a weak humble voice; Unlike 2017, when they reached the semifinals of the Eurocup and won the championship, and a bit like 2004, when they lifted the ULEB Cup and were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Israeli playoffs.
But it is too early to eulogize the holder of the State Cup, and the winning side knows this as well. Last year, on the exact same occasion, Jerusalem faced the same situation. Hapoel Holon took home the first game at the Arena, just as Hapoel Tel Aviv did yesterday, but the Reds recovered from the blow and won the second game (only to lose again at home, in the third and decisive game).
Will he lose his place on the roster? Meiris (Photo: Dov Helikman)
Only once this season, in the opening three rounds of the league, has Jerusalem been on a losing streak. Since then, every time she fell, she knew how to get up and win the next game. Beyond the mental aspect with which the team has failed in recent games, Dzikic will have to find quick solutions to the professional problems posed to him by Dani Franco.
He may take advantage of the opportunity to make one substitution in the Stranger roster during the series, now registering Brandon Brown at Marquez Meiris' expense. Against Hapoel Tel Aviv's crowded guards, the Jerusalemites may need to deepen the rotation in the back line, especially since Oz Blazer, T.J. Klein and Segev can fill the high slot alongside Zach Hankins.
"We will come in a better way for the next game," Segev promised. "We know if we lose, we'll finish the season, and we don't want that to happen. We'll make the adjustments and come prepared. We can save the season."
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