The derby of the round: Anadolu Efes – Maccabi Tel Aviv
In Round 7 of Turkish Airlines Euroleague, we have a big match between two of the main favourites from last season to win the trophy, but unfortunately, the competition was stopped due to do COVID-19 pandemic. Anadolu Efes meet Maccabi Tel Aviv in the derby of the round. Both teams had a slow start in Euroleague, but they find their rhythm in the last games, so this encounter must be on top. Let’s see what they have done in their last games.
Anadolu Efes is in a hot streak of 6 games won from the last 7, including 2 in Euroleague. In their last game in the competition, they travelled to Greece, where they met Olympiacos. The match was balanced and only the extra offensive possessions gained on offensive rebounds made the difference in favour of Anadolu, 84-79. In the first quarter, the Turkish team scored 12 out of their 13 shots from the field and managed to get a 6 points lead at halftime, a lead protected until the end. That game marked the return of Shane Larkin who ended with 15 points, despite his poor shooting of 4-13 from the field. Other great contributors were Vasilije Micic with 20 points and 7 assists and Rodrigue Beaubois with 15 points (3-3 from the distance).
Another team from Turkey for Maccabi Tel Aviv, as they met last round Fenerbahce at home and lost the game 65-75. The game was pretty much in Maccabi’s hands for two quarters and a half, but in the last 14 minutes of the game, their shooting was awful. In the last quarter, they shot only 3 out of 17 attempts from the field and 3-6 from the free-throw line which was the decisive factor for the final result. That defeat came in a very bad moment for Maccabi, as they try to get back on track after 3 defeats in a row in Euroleague prior to winning at Khimki. The main scorers were Scottie Wilbekin with 23 points and Ante Zizic with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
For the game, Anadolu can’t count on Shane Larkin, Bryant Dunston and Sertac Sanli, while Tibor Pleiss is a game-time decision, but he’s likely to play. Maccabi has Omri Casspi, John DiBartolomeu and Yovel Zoosman out for the game, but they are long-time absentees, so this can’t affect them too much. It will be an interesting match and Maccabi has their chance here for the win, as Anadolu’s absences are more important.
Image: Euroleague
Bogdan Vasile Tirc
