By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Bill Clinton won the US elections in 1992 telling to his opponent George Bush: “It’s the economy, stupid” meaning that it’s all about economy and you must care about it to… win the people and the elections.
So, someone must tell to Simone Pianigiani and his players: “It’s the defense stupid”! Fenerbahce lost 99-62 by Barcelona. And it was the fifth game in Top 16, in which the opponent scores more than 90 points and that makes the Turkish team the worst defense in Top 16 during the last decade. Fenerbahce allows 90,1 ppg and the number is even worse if you consider that they have played so far eight games and not six due to the competition system change.
It’s obvious that the Turkish team has excellent players with great talent who were cornerstones to their previous teams also in defense. Who would say that Romein Sato is a bad defender? What about Onan? Or Batiste and Preldzic?
But the defense is not only the individual skills of the players and the coaching stuff’s tactics. It has to do more with the energy of the players and the desire of them to fight and make the opponents’ life harder. And Fenerbahce has to worry about all these. Having two wins after eight games, playoffs are just a dream, but Simone Pianigiani and his players should improve at least their image until the end of Top 16.
WORST TOP 16 DEFENSES
| Season | Team | Points Per Game |
| 2012-13 | Fenerbahce | 90,1 |
| 2011-12 | Real Madrid | 81,5 |
| 2010-11 | Olimpija | 80,2 |
| 2009-10 | Caja Laboral | 86,8 |
| 2008-09 | EA7 Milano | 88,2 |
| 2007-08 | Lietuvos Rytas | 84,5 |
| 2006-07 | Pau Orthez | 85,2 |
| 2005-06 | Zalgiris | 81,8 |
| 2004-05 | Zalgiris | 87 |
| 2003-04 | Zalgiris | 84,5 |
| 2002-03 | Virtus Bologna | 94 |
| 2001-02 | Ural Great | 90,2 |