Better Mediocre Team Than No Team At All

The jersy colours reminded a derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, but the general interest level was more like of a youth game in the 4th league in Romania. The Berliners swept Gala from the very beginning, and for the first time this season in the Eurocup showd they can also demolish other european team. The only problem is that there was no team on the other side.

What makes the turks to a merely de facto team? For example, finishing the game with just 14 assists and with 22 turnovers. For example, not giving a damn in defence, not making any fouls and not helping their teammates with difficult match-ups. In the first half, when the game was allegedly still alive, Alba scored 86% from the 2 points range. It is not a typo: Eighty six procent. The players from Istanbul commited 7 fouls in the entire first half. 2 of them, by the way, were offensive fouls.

Let´s put statistic aside and say it in plain words: Galatasaray has the better squad, at least theoretically. If the two teams will play one on one, Gala would win in 9 out of 10 match-ups. An old chinese saying claims that a basketball team is worth more than the talent of it´s individuals. Yesterday in the Mercedes-Benz Arena we got a proof for it. Alba wanted to win as a team, the other players wanted to improve their individual statistics.

Despite the great team spirit and the one sided game, the albatrosses still have not got rid of their old problems. They defend poorly against players who drive to the rim, they have difficulties dealing defensively with pick´n´rolls and there is a too big of a difference between the starters and the subtitutes level of game. Luckily for them, there is even a bigger difference between Galatasaray and a basketball team.

There is not a lot Aito can take from this game to the next weeks. Darussafaka is perhaps the extreme opposite of Gala. They are the best defensive team of he Eurocup, well trained and disciplined and have one of Europe´s best coaches. Unlike the turkish team we saw yesterday, Darussafaka is a better team - with the emphasis on team - than Alba. In order to beat them in one of the two coming matches, Aito would have to do something unusual, something out of the box. Like small ball. In the few times he tried it, including yesterday, it worked well. Such a style also has a risk, but in order to do the impossible, one has to take it. So far Aito has not showed us any sign of willingness to take risks or to play uncoventional. This has to be changed quickly, otherwise Alba is going to run out of sand in it´s hourglass.

#AlbaBerlin #Eurocup #Galatasaray