By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After losing Coach Erden Can and Tyrique Jones to Anadolu Efes Istanbul and Jerian Grant to Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, Turk Telekom Ankara knew that it had to step up to continue the progress made last season in the BKT EuroCup.
The Turkish club knew that it needed depth and experience and, despite a 1-8 record to start the season, things seem to be turning around with back-to-back wins, one by 11 points at home against U-BT Cluj-Napoca and the second on the road at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica by 23.
Can the Turks make it to the next phase? Let’s say that it would not be wise to bet against them.
The coaching change
After the bumpy start, the club made a coaching change with Coach Nenad Canak being replaced by Selcuk Ernak on October 26, but the results were not immediately visible. Canak returned to his old team, Lietkabelis, and beat Turk Telekom to spread even more doubts, however, Ernak proved to be the right choice.
The 53-year-old Turkish coach arrived after five seasons with Darussafaka, which also included one campaign in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and another in the EuroCup. Ernak knew what needed to be done and, two months later, the story of the season is changing rapidly.
Plus, Turk Telekom’s roster is top-level EuroCup material, including several players with EuroLeague experience.
The Enoch factor
Former Baskonia big man Steven Enoch has registered so far seven double-doubles in 11 games, averaging 13.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks.
He was considered one of the main candidates to be the next big undersized EuroLeague center, keeping up a tradition that dates back to the days of Mike Batiste and, of course, Kyle Hines.
While things didn’t pan out for him in Spain, he has the chance to return with a vengeance to the spotlight on a team that needs him to produce and so far, he is doing exactly that.
Palmer rising
Then there is James Palmer, who had an impressive season in the EuroCup last year with Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, which led to Turk Telekom focusing on him.
Like the team itself, he had a shaky start in his new environment, but in the last two games, he scored 24 points against Cluj-Napoca and 17 against Buducnost, giving a needed boost to the team.
Before that, he had scored 16 points also against Buducnost, in the only win for the team at the start of the season, and also 19 against his former team, Bourg, in a game that Turk Telekom lost by 20 points.
What’s even more important, however, is that he has found his role and the team chemistry is finally clicking.
With Turk Telekom hosting Aris Midea Thessaloniki, which has just one more win (4-7) and is currently tied for fifth in the standings, this week is a golden chance for Turk Telekom to change the narrative and return to the post-season race for good.