A gap of five wins from the second-ranked team in the table, 87 percent success, a basket difference of plus 218 (no other team has a triple-digit plus), and first place in almost all indicators.
Absolute control.
This is the picture of the Euroleague this season: right now, Real Madrid, Maccabi Tel Aviv's opponent tonight, is in a different league.
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Such dominance has not been in the Euroleague for a very long time.
Even after some recent decline and a blow of injuries, Real still has a very impressive record - which includes 20 victories in 23 rounds.
At this point, it seems that only a serious injury to a key player and the Final Four system, where everything depends on one game, can stop it from winning a second consecutive title.
How far is Real's current supremacy an anomaly in the landscape?
For comparison, in recent years the success rate of the teams that finished in first place in the regular season in the Euroleague ranged from 70 to 75 percent.
If Real's incredible pace is maintained, and if it ends the season with the coveted trophy in its hands - it will immediately enter the list of the greatest teams in the history of the enterprise, alongside the glorious dynasties of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Anadolu Efes.
There are stars only in the sky
Real Madrid did win the Euroleague last season, but they were not the best team in the factory.
She had a problem in the center position, which she solved last summer.
Fakondo Campasu, who returned to the club after a period of exile in the NBA and also in Red Star Belgrade, was exactly the missing piece in the puzzle - and turned a good team into an excellent one.
The Argentinian had no difficulties adapting, he came back and connected naturally to a group of players who ran well together.
Camposo.
The missing piece in the puzzle, photo: E.P.I
Apart from Campasso, Real has the best center in Europe (Walter Tavares) and the best replacement center in Europe (Vincent Fourier), and the duo of Mario Zonia and Dezanne Moussa feels much better in the second season in the Spanish capital.
The big secret: many stars, but no one wants to outshine his friend.
But that's not the only secret.
Journalist Pilar Casado has been covering Real for more than 20 years, and she is sure: "Real in the 2015 version had a better squad, certainly Real in 2018 with Luka Doncic," she tells Israel Hayom.
So what makes the current group special, you ask?
Casado doesn't keep the secret to herself: "The connection in the squad is very special. First of all, it's a family. Players who really like to be together, and on the field everyone knows their place. Although there are quite a few stars, no one thinks that he alone will carry the team."
Coach Chos Matteo.
"Many players have made great progress", photo: AFP
Casado gives great credit to coach Chos Mateo and marks the end of last season as the turning point that made the team so good this season: "When Mateo was appointed instead of Aso (after being his assistant) there was a lot of pressure all around.
The question that hovered over him was whether he was suitable for a team of this size.
Last season was not impressive, but the turnaround in the series against Partizan Belgrade and the Euroleague win changed everything.
At that moment all the pressure was released." Casado adds: "Matteo learned how to control things and how to manage such a staff.
Many players have made great progress this season.
He made every player know his place and everyone in the squad knows each other well.
Camposo is back and it's like he never left."
However, Casado emphasizes that the money is counted in steps, and that it is still too early to tie crowns to the head of Real Madrid.
"Everything will be determined in February (Cup), May (Euroleague) and June (League). No one will remember the impressive ability and dominance if she doesn't win titles."
Baldwin vs. Panathinaikos.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has a good chance to sting, photo: IPA
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And despite all that has been written and said so far, Maccabi Tel Aviv has a certain place for optimism: now, as strange as it may sound, is the best time to meet the European champions.
Real is in a certain decline in ability and suffers from a continuous injury blow, with the most dominant man - Tavares - at the top of the list.
She will arrive for tonight's game with a missing lineup after Sunday's league defeat to Gran Canaria.
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