It’s a matter of timing. It all depends on when you catch the opponent. In the previous game, Maccabi received Real Madrid at an excellent time – injured and missing – and knew how to win. If she had met Fenerbahce a few weeks ago, she would probably have won.
The thing is, she met the Turkish team with tremendous momentum. Tonight (Tuesday) was its seventh consecutive victory (75:82), this is the team in the best shape in the Euroleague. Fenerbahce’s race and tonight’s victory puts it two wins away from Maccabi, plus the double victory it has over the Yellows. The result tonight is very detrimental to Maccabi’s ambitions for a place in the top eight.
What a turnaround in Fener, thanks in large part to the return of Marko Godoric to the NBA team (he has not lost since arriving), and the huge upgrade of the anchors Nando de Colo and Jan Wesley. Two returning to the level of the big years of their careers. Fener also has X Factors in every game, this time it was forward Dashon Pierre. She did not give the show like the one she had last Friday when she won in Moscow, but even less good ability was enough for her thanks to smart, patient and correct basketball. Fener achieved the victory tonight with only one offensive rebound.
The game was controlled by the home team from the second quarter where it completed a 0:15 run and went up to 21:30. From here, Maccabi only managed to close every time Fenner increased the difference but did not really endanger it. Not even when Maccabi reduced to 66:70 in the final minutes. The locals, though not fleeing, always seemed confident that they would have no real danger. It ended with a relatively small difference, but in the 72:98 index to Fenerbahce – and that means a lot.
Maccabi failed to record three consecutive victories this season. Yesterday after two wins, it happened again. The opponent’s momentum does not cover Maccabi’s mediocrity. About the inconsistency in her game. For the fact that her face game does not exist. The defensive softness in color stood out as the Turks scored no less than 73 percent for 2.
In contrast to Tyler Dorsey’s great rise against Real Madrid (tonight only 9 points), tonight no one rose and dragged the team. However, it should be noted Scotty Wilbkin’s double double – 15 points and 10 assists. It should also be noted that Othello Hunter had a bad and unconventional evening with 4 points.
the progress of the game
Quarter 1: Dragon Bender had a great start to the game with two accurate threes, but on the other side Wesley and De Colo made their points easily. The game stopped after 5 minutes for a TV timeout with the result 10:12 for Maccabi. The game remained close later in the quarter which ended with a small advantage after a three by Sussman – 17:21 to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Quarter 2: The host took control of things and completed an amazing 0:15 run that put her in the 21:30 lead. Tyler Dorsey, who was great in the previous game against Real Madrid, woke up and brought Maccabi back into the game, and at half time the Yellows went down with a minimal lag – 36:35 to Fenerbahce.
Quarter 3: Zizic returned the advantage to Maccabi at the start of the quarter, but Godoric and De Colo shot from outside the arc and Fenner went up to 37:44. It was Elijah Bryant’s time to start scoring and Wilbkin’s three set a 46:46 tie. The host again ran away with a seven-point lead, 50:57, Dibertolomeo scored a 3-pointer, and Godoric sealed the quarter with a basket and an offensive set. 60:53 to Fenerbahce Towards the last 10 minutes.
Quarter 4: Wesley and Godoric put Fener up 56:67, Wilbkin and Bryant reduced it to 66:70. Dyson Pierre was excellent on the other side and his five points stopped Maccabi’s comeback and raised Fener to 66:75, three and a half minutes to the end of the game. Maccabi still tried to come back with Wilbkin’s attempts but in the end it 75:82 to Fenerbahce.