Introduction to the end of the ceremony. How symbolic it is that Maccabi Tel Aviv’s loss to Bayern Munich last night (Thursday), which could well be the one that closes the Euroleague season, was recorded in a similar way to most of the Yellows’ losses in the factory: lead and control of the game, then disintegration and loss in the closing seconds. This is the ninth loss of the season by up to six points.
Although the large number of close losses is in line with Yannis Sapropoulos’ “fight to the end” doctrine, the sad reality is that even if the Yellows have a theoretical chance to qualify, they have lost the real chance ten rounds before the end of the regular season.
If before departure to Germany Angelo Cloiaro He spoke passionately about the fact that now is the time for Maccabi Tel Aviv to turn the bowl upside down, after the game it was impossible not to notice the despair in his voice: “We fought and gave ourselves a great chance to win, but we did not do the job at the end, and unfortunately this is our story this season. We have very little time left to try to turn the season around. “
Ante Žižić, Who was Maccabi’s outstanding with 18 points and 10 rebounds, but in defense did not stop being a comfortable goal for the hosts, said: “We did a great job until the fourth quarter. We played hard on both sides of the field, but in the fourth quarter they dominated, picking 15 rebounds on offense. “And we made mistakes that you can’t make if you want to beat a team like Bayern. And despite all that, we got to a point where we could win and we couldn’t take advantage of it.”
Non-retrospective wisdoms. Unfortunately for Maccabi, most of the staff’s predictions and analyzes before the start of the season and in its early stages – turned out to be true. In real time it could be seen that the main reason for the weakening compared to last season was the decision to go for a heavy and slow front line with Žižić and Bender, in stark contrast to athletes like Tariq Black and Quincy Ace last season. Even an actor named Jaylen Reynolds wore yellow last year, but there were those who did not think he was suitable. Maybe 14.5 points this season prove that Maccabi was wrong about him.
The Yellows had opportunities to correct, but for a variety of reasons decided not to do so. Bender’s contract, a player of less than six points per game – was extended until the end of the season, and although at that point in time (December) there was not too abundant supply in the market, Maccabi Tel Aviv could try to sign an athletic player and maybe even cheaper, but gave up The idea.
Zizic, who was signed by Maccabi with great fanfare, soon turned out to be an uncoverable hole in the defense, and even when Maccabi had the opportunity to replace him with a player like Devin Boker, for example, who received approval from Khimki to look for a team To the financial stage.
The mitigating circumstances are known and some are justified, especially the corona that prevented Maccabi from setting a budget as in previous years, and probably also made the possibility of significant changes during the season less realistic, but bottom line, Maccabi saw in real time that the team is not good enough.
With ten games to the end of the regular season, including particularly difficult home games against Barcelona, CSKA and Andulo, and equally difficult away games against Zalgiris and Zenit, the Yellows need a miracle to qualify for the playoffs. The more realistic goal should be to try to finish the season in a better position From 14th place, the one that Maccabi is in today and the one that is considered its lowest position in the regular season (season 16/17) since the transition to league format.