Paris vs Maccabi Tel Aviv

Paris was able to end a five-game losing streak in the EuroLeague by beating Anadolu Efes 88-84. This team is occupying the fifth position in the competition with 13-8. They have also been two consecutive victors in the domestic league, and they also triumphed in the French Cup game against Pau Orthez winning 107-78.

After that Paris entered slightly what can be referred to as rash to a strike as they have been tamed for several matches. It started with some flu cases among some players and this forced cancellation of a match with Fenerbahce.

However the cock was useful for Paris and they got a precious victory against Anadolu Efes. Even in that match they were not spectacular but at least only in the finishing moments of the match they outsmarted the Turkish team. This was made to look very easy by Paris because the visitors were struggling with illnesses of some of their prominent players including Shane Larkin and Darius Thompson.

It took the last quarter to determine the winner in this match with Paris providing severitenes with TJ Shorts. He got 17 points while Nadir Hifi comes second with 14 points. Both of them had been lead point-makers for their team throughout current season. Mikael Jantunen also got significant points to assist in the match against Anadolu Efes, scoring 10 points.

Collin Malcolm was once again solid, and Paris was lucky enough to escape a night where Tyson Ward was not concerned with shooting the ball, going 0/5 from three. You might not have thought so, but Paris is actually only weaker in offense (9th in the league) than in defense (7th in the league).

However, opponents find it difficult to keep up with their speed of play. Paris has the fewest turnovers per game in the whole EuroLeague, despite playing at the second-fastest pace. Although they rank second in terms of rebounds, the team's rebound percentages indicate that they are not very dominant on the boards. They have the second-lowest number of assists per game, which is fascinating, and they are far stronger at offensive rebounding than defensive. This is because their outside players have a great deal of latitude in how they play, particularly when it comes to setting up their own shot possibilities.

With Maccabi Tel Aviv in dismal form, Paris greets visitors with a smile. Paris will be fresher because Maccabi had a difficult game against Real Madrid on the road. Nevertheless, Paris must maintain the rapid play and high quantity of early-shot attempts that have defined the team thus far, and complete focus is required.

Maccabi Tel Aviv put up an incredible fight in their EuroLeague clash against the heavily favored Real Madrid but ultimately fell short in a thrilling 116-113 loss. This marks their third consecutive defeat in the tournament, leaving them with a 5-16 record and placing them second-to-last in the standings.

Despite the loss, Maccabi came tantalizingly close to pulling off a stunning upset in Madrid. However, two poorly executed final possessions and a couple of ill-timed fouls while in the bonus proved too costly. Even so, their impressive performance offered some positives for the Israeli squad to take away.

It’s likely Real Madrid underestimated their opponents, especially after Maccabi’s heavy defeat to Partizan in Belgrade, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that Maccabi played a near-flawless offensive game. They delivered quarter scores of 30, 33, 27, and 23 points, shooting an impressive 57.1% from two-point range (24/42) and a stellar 59.1% from beyond the arc (13/22). They also went a perfect 26-for-26 from the free-throw line and recorded 22 assists.

However, their 13 turnovers were a problem, and one in particular proved pivotal. In a crucial possession, they failed to get off a shot before the 24-second clock expired, missing a golden opportunity to tilt the game in their favor.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s recent game made one thing abundantly clear: they’ve really felt the absence of Jasiel Rivero. The experienced center, a key player both in skill and leadership, made his return after a long time on the sidelines—and it showed. Rivero dropped 12 points, some of them in clutch moments. Alongside him, Rokas Jokubaitis (20 points) and Jaylen Hoard (19 points) delivered standout performances. These three have been the most consistent new additions this season, living up to the high expectations placed on them.

However, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s roster choices have been a challenge. The team has already undergone significant changes, but whether these adjustments will steer them in the right direction remains uncertain. For now, things look shaky in the EuroLeague. Their Achilles’ heel? Defense. With the worst defensive rating in the league (a troubling 122.8), their struggles are evident. Even scoring an impressive 113 points against Real Madrid wasn’t enough to secure a win—a glaring reminder of their defensive woes. On the flip side, they’ve been excelling in offensive rebounding and are one of the league’s fastest teams, ranking fourth in pace.

Despite the exhausting showdown in Madrid, there’s a silver lining for Maccabi. Their performance was notably better than in recent games, thanks in part to a deeper rotation and a fully available roster. With improved practices and renewed energy, there’s room for optimism as they move forward, even if the road ahead looks tough.