Adjustments will be key before Game 2 in Samokov, Bulgaria on Friday
Valencia, Hapoel learned valuable lessons in Game 1
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After Game 1 of the semifinal series between Valencia Basket and Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv, some cards are already on the table.
Valencia rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Hapoel 91-82 at La Fonteta in Game 1, but both teams will meet again at Samokov Arena on Friday. If Hapoel wins, the series would return to La Fonteta for do-or-die Game 3.
Valencia found the way to win despite not being able to impose its rhythm for the best part of the game. It had only 4 assists in the first half, none of which came in the first quarter. Despite entering the game as the competition's leader in three-point shooting (39.1% 3FG), Valencia hit just 4-of-24 shots from downtown (16.7% 3FG).
"We won despite our bad three-point shooting percentage," said head coach Pedro Martinez. "This is something we usually do quite well, and we only 4 four of those even though we scored 91 points, so it's good to score from other positions. We knew it would be difficult to show our identity and be focused. We will try to do that on Friday."
How did Valencia turn it around? The biggest key was circulating the ball better while preventing Hapoel from doing so. After getting 11 assists and 4 turnovers before the break, Hapoel finished the game with more turnovers (16) than assists (15). Valencia ended up getting 14 second-half assists, too
Hapoel head coach Dimitris Itoudis believes that his team paid a big price for an underwhelming third quarter.
"We pretty much succeeded in the first half, scoring almost 50 points and being +6," commented Coach Itoudis. "The third quarter costed us a lot due to the aggressiveness Valencia showed. We went 1 of 4 and 1 of 8, twos and threes, so 2 of 12 combined, 6 turnovers and no assists. It says a lot how much it cost us this third quarter, but it is a playoff series. We have to become better in the second game and try to find a way to tie the series."
What changes can we expect in Game 2?
First of all, small forward Semi Ojeleye should be in a better physical condition. Ojeleye led Valencia in scoring this season (12.8 PPG) but played less than seven minutes against Hapoel, going scoreless.
"He was feeling really bad in the morning and had a very bad night. An indigestion or indisposition, I don't know exactly what it is. But he has been feeling very bad," Coach Martinez explained. "He has made a great effort: during warm-ups, he had to go to back to the locker room twice because he had diarrhea and needed to vomit. He has made a huge effort coming from his heart more than from his physical skills. Let's see if we can get him back for Friday. Hapoel, meanwhile, was without Bruno Caboclo and Joe Ragland, who are key pillars in the team's rotation.
Of course, both teams are set to make adjustments to take the closer to their respective comfort zones. Valencia is all about hard defense, rebounds and high rhythm, looking or quick shots whenever possible. Hapoel is able to score just as much but feels more comfortable in a five-on-five offense in which Johnathan Motley, Marcus Foster and Yam Madar can find one-on-one opportunities. Valencia did a good job bringing Hapoel's stars into foul trouble: Madar and Foster fouled out, and Motley picked up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter.
Coach Martinez gave credit to his players for solving a tough situation. "You always adjust things but in the end, but it was the players themselves. They were uncomfortable in the first half due to Hapoel's great work. In the second half, they had the ability to adjust better," he said. "As coaches, we change small things, but it is the players who have managed to feel more comfortable."
"We cannot lose our composure and being kicked out because we are nervous for some decisions offensively or defensively, so we need to find a better way to execute the plan," Coach Itoudis noted. "We will work on that, we have two more days to find it out, to figure it out."
Coach Itoudis knows that preventing Valencia from hitting three-pointers should not be enough, as it was proven in Game 1. Valencia outrebounded Hapoel 42-31, took a better care of the ball and found answers outside with an outstanding Jean Montero, but also inside, as Matt Costello and Nate Reuvers combined for 25 points.
"We lost the battle on rebounds and turnovers, and stayed scoreless for four and a half minutes in the third quarter, staying out of the game plan," Coach Itoudis said. "So it doesn't mean that if you manage to keep Valencia low on the three-pointers you have the game in your pocket, on the contrary they have other ways to win the game, but at least on that part we were pretty much successful."
Above all, EuroCup fans can be sure that it will be another basketball battle between two really well-coached teams.
"We kept playing, looking for our moment and that arrived in the third quarter, in which we improved. We have to recover, try to change some things to see if we are able to be a little more in our rhythm and know that they won't let us do it," Coach Martinez said before the game. "This is basketball: you want to do things and the opponent won't allow you to do it. Both teams will change things and I am sure they will give us even more trouble in the next game."