Erdem Can’s squad improved to a 3-4 record after beating Zalgiris Kaunas and ended a two-game losing streak in the process.
OT victory can help Efes rebuild new winning attitude
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Regular Season
Round 7 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul has been slow out of the gates this season after a summer that saw so much change. Now, Erdem Can’s charges hope their 86-82 overtime win against Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 7 can be an important step in establishing a new winning culture.
Over the last few years, a period in which Efes secured back-to-back Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles, the clear winning mindset instilled by ex-head coach Ergin Ataman was one of his team’s main traits. However, some of the main leaders from those sides have now departed, including Ataman himself, Vasilije Micic and Bryant Dunston, so it is very much a new-look Efes these days.
Over the summer, Coach Can arrived to replace Ataman and All-EuroLeague guard Thompson came in to fill Micic’s shoes, while Larkin, who was a key part of Efes’s two EuroLeague title successes, and second-year forward Will Clyburn provided a good base for Can to build around.
An important win for team confidence
On Thursday evening, Efes was able to still come out with the win against Zalgiris, despite throwing away an 18-point lead that allowed the visitors to force overtime. Clyburn led the way with 20 points, Thompson scored 17 points and dished 5 assists, Larkin had 14 points and Derek Willis recorded an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double.
“We needed this game, especially at home after taking the loss last week [93-81 at Virtus Segafredo Bologna],” said Clyburn in his post-game flash interview. “It’s all about getting better and better. Everybody is getting used to the system and getting used to everything that is going on.
“We’ve got a new team and there will be a lot of ups and downs. We just need to get used to playing with each other and get into the flow and just play.”
Willis, who signed for Efes from Umana Reyer Venice during the offseason, believes the win was important in moving forward.
“It’s not the Xs and Os that are hurting us,” he stated. “It’s been more the mentality and energy and our mindset when we come to the game. That’s why I think this week was good for us. I think everybody was locked in and tonight it showed.”
Players new and old shining
This Round 7 victory was truly thanks to a mix of players new and old. Clyburn carried the team over stretches with a freeness that he hasn’t had much yet. New arrival Thompson was outstanding all game, too, until fouling out just before the end of regulation. Yet, his positive night came after struggling on his last two outings.
Tyrique Jones contributed 11 points and 6 rebounds as a major force inside, and he is someone Coach Can knows well as they were together last season at Turk Telekom Ankara, the 2022-23 BKT EuroCup runner-up.
The other player to shine was Larkin, whose history is well known with Efes. The veteran scored or assisted on the final 10 points after falling behind 76-79 in overtime, including netting the game-deciding layup with 9.3 seconds left.
Coach Can is the biggest new piece since he brings with him a new system, and the 43-year-old thinks the victory could be a landmark one this season.
“There is a little bit of pressure in our minds about winning the game. There were some points in the game where we were down, but we couldn’t react well,” commented Coach Can. “We gave up 6 three-pointers in the fourth quarter to our opponent, but I think this overtime period is going to help us to build a winning attitude and habit.
“We are a team building a system with different pieces coming together with different habits. It’s not easy to transfer it, but I am very happy all of my players are trying their best. And as long as we try to do our best, it will be good. We are trying to get better every single day and hopefully this win will help us build up a little more of a winning attitude.”
It wouldn’t be a surprise later in the season, if Efes is back among the top teams in the league, that the coach and players point back to this victory. After all, they wasted an 18-point lead and had to come back, showing the might of former Efes sides in overtime. Only time will tell if Can's Efes can end up replicating the feats of Ataman's squads. Efes fans will certainly be hoping so.