This writer asked Hapoel Holon head coach Guy Goodes prior to the club’s 90-83 victory over JDA Dijon if Adam Smith would be the key player in this matchup where his side needed to win to ensure that they would advance to the Champions League Top 8. Goodes responded that he didn’t see it that way and any player from Chris Johnson to Tyrus McGee could end up being the star of the show and help lead his squad to victory.

How did Adam Smith do you ask? How about 29 points, 5/9 from long distance, 7 assists and an efficiency rating of 32 as the guard helped pull a Holon team that was deep in the mud down 16-2 very early on in the game to the quarterfinals.

Not bad for a day’s work.

Goodes should have realized that Smith who comes off the bench would be “The Man” his man to spur his team to the best of three series for the right to play in the Final Four which will be held in Bilbao at the beginning of May.

It’s not as if Smith hadn’t turned the trick before. His signature has been on a number of huge victories this season including one just earlier in the week against Hapoel Beer Sheva in the Israeli league where the guard nailed a pair of late triples to take pull out the home win.

What makes Smith unique is that he can create something from absolutely nothing. Literally. When Holon was floundering and were nowhere to be found at the start of the game, Goodes sent Smith on to see what he could do to get his team back into contention in a game that Holon had to win to move on.

Smith entered the fray and immediately began chipping away at the Dijon advantage. A steal, an assist, a basket here and another basket there which was followed up by a triple to get Holon back into the game and down only 24-15 after such a brutal beginning.

The 29-year old kept doing his thing in the second frame as Holon went into halftime down just 3 measly points which was easy as pie to overcome in the second half which saw Michale Kyser killing it inside to roll to the victory.

Smith has never played for one team for more than a season and moved around a bunch over his professional career playing for no less than 11 teams since his debut in 2016! That was also his M.O. in college where he at three different schools, spending two seasons with Virginia Tech which was his longest stay at any one place.

He is like a nomad with no one place where he can call home. He is a mercenary that will come in to do a job when needed to. However, he is still looking for his first championship, his first title that he can put his name on and proudly display to all.

As for the comeback itself, Smith explained how Holon stayed composed enough to not fret and take it play by play and shot by shot to eventually chalk up the victory.

“They got some points off of turnovers at the start of the game and we said that everyone should stay solid. It was inch by inch by us on both ends if the floor. We just played into their hands early but we stayed solid. It didn’t go according to plan but that has built us to be able to withstand a lot. I have the ability to make difficult shots and tonight was my night.”

Michale Kyser who checked in with his season high of 26 points hitting 12/13 from the free throw line while pulling down 8 boards was huge down the stretch to keep Holon in the drivers seat and make it to the finish line first, “We started off slow as we have done during the season. But the passion we have, we were able to take the win against a good Dijon team.”

As for his own magnificent performance, Kyser wanted to credit his teammates and staff for putting him in the position to find points, “To be here with this great team, it can be anyone’s night and I was able to just do more. I have a great coaching staff, I had the ball in my hands and I was able to score. This is why I came to play here in this city and for this team.”

Goodes as well couldn’t find the answer why some games juts don’t start off on the right foot, “Herzliya, the Israel national team and other games. I don’t know why. But the energy we brought and the guys did the job. We tried to play lineup and go one step at a time and when it was minus 3 at the half, it was a new game. Adam Smith comes off the bench and Kyser did a terrific job in the second half and of course Joe (Ragland) is Joe.”

But without Smith, Goodes and Holon comes nowhere close to finding a way to win this game due to his ability to score and score and score, “There are players who don’t need plays to find points, and Adam has that ability. When you have an issue Smith and McGee can just find those points out of nowhere and you need these types of players on your team. I’m happy with such a great game and in Germany and he hit a couple of big shots as well. We have three very high quality guards who can do it all.”

Kyser also spoke about Smith’s ability to score, “Adam is an energetic player and he found himself. He started off slow this season, but he’s a spark when he comes off the bench.”

Up next is the Top 8 draw where Holon will get one of Malaga, Strasbourg or Tofas Boursa in the best of 3 quarterfinal series in which they will have home court advantage.

“I don’t care who we get,” Goodes said. “It’s a very important thing for the club to be in this situation and we want to take it another level and keep battling. One thing I can say is that we will do the best we can. Everyone at this level are very good and we will have to fight hard.”