Anderson’s numbers were not spectacular – he averaged 3.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists for a PIR of 4.5 per night. But stats don’t always tell the full story, and that’s certainly the case in this Efes team which needs players like Anderson to diligently perform their background roles and provide disciplined defense in order for backcourt stars Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic to do their game-winning thing.
But Anderson did have his moments in the spotlight, too. In a Round 27 pummelling of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, he enjoyed a perfect shooting night, scoring 11 points including 3-of-3 shooting on three-pointers. And a key Round 31 home win over Real Madrid – foreshadowing the championship game – saw Anderson make a strong contribution with 5 points and 5 rebounds in 19 minutes on the floor.
The Final Four was a different story as Anderson contributed in his usual team-first way, attempting only one shot during 20 minutes on the court during the two games. But his basketball IQ and rock-solid defense were important ingredients of Efes’s triumph, again showing that successful teams need lots of different qualities. And James Anderson provides many of them.
