By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Alex Tyus is more than deserving MVP for April, as Euroleague announced on Monday, and his story can be the story of Maccabi Tel Aviv. In the start of the season, every one respected the Israelis, but very few expected to see them at Milan. During the same time, Tyus had trouble adapting in coach Blatt’s system and Maccabi was thinking about shipping him away.
In the first five games of regular season, Tyus’ best ranking was a miserable 2 in the premier of the season and that almost led him out of the team. Olympiacos, which had its own front line issues due to Simmons’ injury at the time, was interested on him and asked to get him on loan, but Maccabi didn’t want to agree in such an arrangement. The Israelis wanted to release him in order for Olympiacos to sign him to a new contract, but neither the Greeks or the side of the player were ready for something like that.
That’s how Tyus stayed in Tel Aviv and suddenly his luck, and also the luck of the team, changed. Tyus’ break out game was the 7th of the regular season – he didn’t played in the 6th – at the road against Crvena Zvezda. Tyus had 8 points and 7 rebounds and his status in the team immediately changed. The former Florida Gator had also to step up when Shawn James was injured and he delivered. His numbers gradually started to increase and finally on April he was one of the key players of Maccabi’s return to the Final Four.
In seven Maccabi΄s games in Euroleague during that month, Tyus registered four of his best six nights in the league, cementing his fame as one of the best finishers in Europe.In the play offs he had 2 blocks per game, 6 two pointers made per game, the best field goal accuracy (75%) and the third highest PIR (18.25). In what is considered a Cinderella season for Maccabi, Tyus is the embodiment of the Israeli’s effort.