By Panos Katsiroumpas/ info@eurohoops.net
What a game in Istanbul and what a comeback for Fenerbahce! In a game that everything seem to go on Maccabi’s way, the Turkish team manage to create a scoring run with their star players on the bench and made the first of the three steps needed, in order to advance to the Final Four.
Maccabi had a clear defensive strategy and clear risks. They risk the shots from the point guard and try to deny open looks for Bogdanovic and Goudelock. They tried to be always one step forward, when they both tried to take some screens and they put a lot of pressure against them when they had the possession of the ball. Their only goal was to force them pass the ball, and not execute and find offensive rhythm.
That strategy was successful for almost all parts of the game. Characteristically we have to mention that after 15 minutes of ball game, Goudelock and Bogdanovic had only 2 points with 4 Field Goal attempts, while Zisis and Preldzic executed more than 10 possession of Fenerbahce, and this was a clear win of the defensive plan of Goodes.
On the other hand, Maccabi was lucky to have Jeremy Pargo in a great offensive day. He was very attacking in every isolation play, no matter the opponent, and finished many plays. Moreover he was great also in terms of creation, with his great split out passes, when the defense was closing inside, for open looks from the perimeter. Ohayon and Smith scored some open threes giving their team the lead. Pargo finished the game with 25 points and 8 assists. In the last period he had 4 points, zero assists and 3 turnovers and this was one reason for the comeback of Fenerbahce.
Maccabi tried to run with Pargo, Tyus and Randle, but found open transition only in the 1st half. In the 2nd half Maccabi started again firing from the perimeter early on, while Tyus was a beast with his offensive rebounds and finishes. Vesely had to sit on the bench after his 3rd foul, and Maccabi looked to be in total control, with a 10 point lead.
This was the time that Fenerbahce bounced back. With their best players on the bench they found way to turn the game. With Sipahi and Preldzic in the 2 guards’ positions, they put real pressure on the ball, they stopped the penetrations to the basket, and stopped the execution of Maccabi. Zoric had some great recoveries after screens forcing Tyus to shoot outside of the paint and also to make some turnovers. Preldzic and Sipahi scored also 10 points, while Zoric added 8 to give a boost to their team and create a 20-5 run.
The risks of Maccabi were punished in the 2nd half. In the final minutes, the energy of Fenerbahce was in high standards, compared to the energy of Maccabi. The Turkish team, scored in transition, stole many balls and had a lot of 2nd chance point with Vesely being huge with his offensive boards and finishes. Maccabi also paid the fact, that they didn’t have another player except Pargo in good offensive day.
In the end the Israeli team couldn’t protect the paint in any occasion. Fenerbahce scored many points inside the paint in the last quarter, they had 10 more offensive rebounds, less turnovers and 6 more steals. Maccabi executed with better percentages, both in 2pt & 3pt shots, but in such a close game the number of possessions mattered. Fenerbahce finished the game with 15 possessions more.