almost
Speaking frankly, game number 2 was not dramatically different from game number 1. At least on the script level. A first quarter that is all a display of offensive purpose by the yellows. Maccabi Tel Aviv’s replacement ice that helps Panathinaikos establish an advantage in the second quarter. and increase it in the third quarter. On Tuesday it reached plus 12 for the greens. Last night the emir went up to 18. Then a huge yellow comeback. Okay, okay, and hence there are already a number of differences that led to very different results at the end of a noisy and boisterous evening.
Now is exactly the stage where everyone chooses the way in which he tells himself the story of the series.
Some will say that Maccabi did its part when it took one of the two games. And rightly so. that she proved how unbreakable she is – and that she will always, but always, find the way back. which is true.
Some will say, two games in, that the best center or guard in the series is Kostas Sloukas. that the best tall in the series is Mathias Lesur. that usually the group with the brighter stars is the one that moves on. That Pau’s defense is more impressive. And if the early medical assessments turn out to be correct, i.e. a tiny tear in Baldwin’s hamstring = 10-14 days out, at the very least (unless the team and/or the player consciously choose to risk his health), then the chance of winning two games in Belgrade is not great. And maybe one too. Not to mention a victory in the fifth game in Oaxaca surrounded by cigarette smoke and surrounded by the aromas of danger.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is an excellent basketball team. which knows how to produce extensive minutes of inspiring and admirable attack. We got moments from her, both in the first game and in the second, that it is highly doubtful whether they can be imitated by any other basketball team in the old continent in general or in the second best league in the world in particular. To the extent that. She knows how to be precise, she knows how to be sharp, she knows how to be spectacular. She knows how to be wow.
And as mentioned, it was enough for one big win and almost an even bigger comeback in game number 2. Almost. And this almost might be the one that will keep her from the Final Four.
Just Almost (GETTY)
Two moments
9:06 to the end of the fourth quarter, in the midst of minutes that are all dancing in yellow, led by the choreographer Blatt Jr., Ergin Atman decided to momentarily abandon his anti-Zionist/anti-Euroligian/anti-class manifesto and return to the gut feelings that brought him this far. With all due respect to everyone, not that Argin Atman really respects anyone – he is also named for Kostas Sloukas’ 4 fouls. and pushed him into the fray. And from that moment until the end of the game, Slokas kept to himself and did not commit a foul. And did a few other things along the way.
6:05 to the end of the fourth quarter, following a sequence of assists that there are no such things made by Blatt, back to back to back, Oded Ketch went for a triple substitution. Blatt also came out as part of it. It is likely that this exchange was made as a result of some kind of fatigue exhibited by the man. On the other hand, let’s count for a moment. Tamir Blat entered the game 5:47 to the end of the third quarter. Then a TV timeout. Then the timeout between the quarters. Then a Pau timeout, a minute into the fourth quarter. Did he really manage to accumulate such fatigue, at a level that cannot be contained and held a little longer? To Blatt and his patron the solutions (which make perfect sense, for the avoidance of doubt).
In any case, Blatt went to rest trailing 75:70, when Lesor missed the penalty (score 1). When he returns to play, just a minute later, the whole momentum will change dramatically. When he returns to play, the ball will remain in Lorenzo Brown’s hands and not his. From the moment Blatt went to rest until the end of the game, Pau would lead 9:19. and hello hello
Two moments. Two decisions. Both are completely legitimate. Both changed the game from end to end.
Nivo
Two games into the series and it is doubtful that there is still anyone who thinks that Josh Nieveau is the most senior of the centers on the floor. Everything may still change, of course, but in both the first and the second game, the parquet and the color belong to the Frenchman with the ponytail without the Sarpan. With the toria, with the shevria, with the talent, the good hands and the intensity that never ends. He beats him in almost every Krav Maga or battle for position. He beats him statistically (Nivo currently stands at 9 points + 5.5 rebounds and an index of 10. Lesor has 16.5 points (77% to 2), 7 rebounds and an index of 24). It is Nivo who loses his temper. Lesor, on the other hand, looks following himself and is kept from committing offences. Ketch, one who sees, has correspondingly reduced Nivo’s minutes compared to his season average. Atman, who also sees, decided exactly the opposite regarding his man.
And leave for a moment all the great offensive moves of Lessor with his back to the basket. I’m talking to you regarding face-to-face battles. Manu a Manu.
Let’s say here. Maccabi Tel Aviv runs here one of the most beautiful drills it has in the playbook. Brown, with the ball, goes for a staggered pick and roll, with Cleveland blocking first and Nivo second. From this move, also in this game, the Israeli champions usually receive quite a few highlight clips. And here, Nivo cuts to the basket and waits for a lift. And there isn’t, because Lesor moves with him and discourages Brown from trying to deliver. Then Niebo tries to save the situation and create a passing option for the stuck Brown. Valsur takes that too. He takes everything.
Okay, so we’re out the other side. Now Lesor is the blocker and Nivo is the one whose job it is to prevent. And please look at this great contact battle, which starts when the big clock shows 5:25. Lesor tries to lock and Nivo is locked for a thwarting action that Eric Zeevi will do well to interpret for me. Then James Webb III falls asleep on him, so Mitoglou the cutter receives a pass behind him. Venivo is still trying to prevent. Valsur sends him in the general direction of Shimon Mizrahi, and Ketch to complain (quite rightly) to the referees who did not whistle for the obvious push.
Yes they whistled, no they whistled – Lesor won here and here and here and here. And not thanks to the judges. The thing is that in game number 1 Lesor was alone (because he has no proper replacement or even in this team) while Niveau had Rivero. And in game number 2 Lesor was the only center for Pau, but this time Rivero’s effect, even though he recorded similar numbers, was felt much less.
Maccabi Tel Aviv, as a group, took quite a few defensive actions aimed at restricting the steps of Lessor, the ex. Soon we will touch and see some of them. It did reduce the amount of his points by 50%, but not the power and impact he has on the offensive and defensive game. He, unlike Manibu, is a goal player. He, unlike Manivo, is offensively dependent on himself. He is, as of today, one of the two main reasons why Panathinaikos is back to breathing independently.
Everyone
What did you do, Kostas? At the age of 34, Helam broke two career records. His personal high in assists in Game 1. His personal high in points in Game 2. Yes, he lost the ball and the first game. Yes, he won the second game.
The Euroleague, you know, is an aging league. Such that a significant part of its icons is already in the last stage of their careers. De Colo, Kyle Haynes, Dunston, Sergio Huey, Sergio Rodriguez, Rudy Fernandez, etc. And Slokas is also supposed to be in this place. The thing is, at least in terms of points and efficiency, this is the best season of his career. Slokas is already a 3-time Euroleague champion, with Olympiakos and Fener, but he was never the man in those teams.
There was always some Spanolis or some Bogdan Bogdanovich. Kostas Sloukas wants his fourth, and this time he is no longer ready to be the next one. This time it’s on him. And at least this time, on the way, at head level in front of Lorenzo Brown, he did school.
His team won by 27 points in the 29 minutes he played. His team can’t last a single second without him. Last night, he found a solution for him and her for every situation. Including in the moments when the regional defense of Ketch caused confusion in the attack of the Greeks. including in dealing with various guards attached to him.
Let’s say here. The man trying to guard him is Webb. Taller than him, more mobile than him, more athletic than him. And here comes Sor to provide him with the blockage. At the same time, Krav Maga is impressive in its scope in color between Mitoglou and Coulson. for health Coulson messes with Mitogloo, Mitogloo messes with your smile. Slokas recognizes, understands that a traffic lane has been opened for him, chooses to move once morest the direction of the blockage and takes everyone for a walk. Another trip.
Now let’s go back a bit. Slokas is guarded this time by Tamir Blatt. And here comes this time the anticompo to block. Well, then there is a tactical solution that comes straight from the bench – and its name in Israel is ICE. That is, they will answer, that Blatt now directs Slokas in the direction of the longitude, in order to prevent him from reaching me in the middle and/or color. The thing is that Atman has solutions to this solution, and Antetkompo turns to him and changes the blocking angle to something reminiscent of a STEP UP SCREEN. which needs to be treated much better. First of all at the level of Blatt’s ability to cope and then with the help from Rivero. In short, all this English moves Kostas to Slokas. Here’s a dribble on the weak hand. Here’s another Trice, headed for the evening of 4/7 outside the three-point arc.
Now we will go even further back, and connect the defense of Lasor with the bad things that Slokas does to the Yellows. Slokas is guarded this time by Lorenzo Braun. Velsur blocks (Lennan) and rolls towards the paint, which puts the entire Maccabi Tel Aviv defense into panic and draws Coulson, Nibo and Brown there as well. It might have ended with a pass in, but Lesor makes the right choice – he chooses Slokas. Oh, and then a Nivo bomb in the general direction of Papapetrou, which would lead to an 8 point run in one attack and momentum that would sweep the Greens up to plus 12 at the half.
Naturally, Baldwin’s disadvantage is also particularly significant when it comes to the potential defense of Slokas. Even if he continues to be absent, Ketch will have to find a way to be smarter – and above all much tougher and more intense with this huge guard. and do everything to exhaust him on the side where they usually keep. And the next time, in complete contrast to the serious mistake she made this time, Slokas would once more be caught in a foul problem, Maccabi Tel Aviv will have to – as a first priority – do everything including everything including everything including everything to actively involve him in every defensive position of Pau. Maccabi Tel Aviv without Baldwin weakens. Panathinaikos without Slokas, as of today, does not exist.
the joker
Panathinaikos showed up for this series believing in the defensive ticket. As one that leads the plant in quite a few defensive parameters. This time, unlike the previous game, she managed to stop the dancing. This time she managed to limit Maccabi Tel Aviv to 79 points. And if we deduct that huge attacking first quarter of the yellows, we are already talking regarding 51 points of the Israeli champions in 30 minutes. A completely different movie.
A significant part of this matter was the unexpected joker that came from Pau’s bench. The truth is that Ioannis Papapetrou should not be considered a joker. He is an old, experienced and quite expensive Euroleague player. who is going through (another) catastrophic season. with an average of less than 4 points per game. With 4 three-pointers that he scored during the entire season, cumulatively. And yesterday he scored another 4, in a single game. Papa also got the minutes of the game thanks to the absence of Juancho Hernangomez, another green flop, who made room in the forward positions. And mainly because he, personally, found a defensive solution to the Bonzie Coulson problem.
Colson scored 21 in the game between the two in the 4th round. He added 14 in the 23rd round. And another 18 in game number 1. Then papa came and put an end to it. Colson, who tried and tried and tried to get to one-on-one situations in general and post-up situations in particular, managed to get 2 shots from 2-point range. He finished with 6 points in over 35 minutes. and was unable to prevail or outwit the papa.
For example here. With the ball in Blatt’s hands, Coulson goes to his favorite side of the post area and really wants. and nothing. Now, with your permission, please pay close attention to Papapetrou’s double defensive action. He also prevents the initial introduction of the ball to Coulson and reacts great to Maccabi’s offensive drill. Ketch’s team is running a Spanish pick-and-roll here, meaning Nibo blocks for Blatt and flies towards the ring on a back block by Coulson. But watch out for Papa, with 12 seconds left on the little clock, who momentarily leaves Coulson to block Nebo’s path (they’ll answer BUMP) and foils everything.
And now add to that the uncompromising defense of Lesor. Please look here. First of all, Papapetrou takes Coulson’s attempt to move without the ball towards the ring. Then Lessor gets Cleveland while Papa once more prevents any thought of an inbound pass to Coulson. And now to turn on Brown. the truth? very impressive. the truth? applause.
Three points to go
1. Position number 4 – James Webb played 18 minutes yesterday. Some in position number 3, most in position 4. Bonzie Coulson got 35 minutes for these two positions. Roman Sorkin, once more, hardly acted. The best of them all, once more, is Zak Cohen. Shaftah, once more, is amazing. who broke his season high in points (12) and efficiency index (11). who made 3/3 for 2 points and 2/3 for three. who even surprised and contributed defensively. who played a total of 2 minutes in the second half.
2. Not really guards – in the end, Pau finished the game with 24/35 for 2 points. That comes out to 69%. The first game, as I recall, she finished with 22/30 for 2 points. That comes out to 73%. In the first she scored less well for three, in the second better. In the first she missed a lot of the line, in the second less so. Bottom line, Panathinaikos’ attack feels comfortable so far. Way too comfortable. Maccabi Tel Aviv, until proven otherwise, is not really a guard. And no, it’s not just a matter of pace and number of attacks.
3. Fun – bottom line, we have received two huge games so far. with a high level of basketball. with dramas and upheavals. With superstars and jokers. with provocations. with and one types. With even a little mess in the locker room area. What fun basketball is. What fun is playoff basketball. And we just started. A sequel is coming very soon.
Shabbat Shalom. Let’s have a good time.