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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/wade1-e1701898552645.webp\")
Wade Baldwin – Photo Credit: Euroleague<\/p><\/div> After a strong performance in the team\u2019s resounding 96-81 win over Partizan on October 5 at Yad Eliyahu \u2013 in which he had 14 points and 5 rebounds in 21.5 minutes \u2013 Sorkin has struggled on the court in the games since the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War. Although he has had some good performances, including 16 points in under 15 minutes in the round 8 loss to 74-79 loss to Olympiacos, overall he has been inconsistent, coming into the round 12 game with averages of 6.8 points and 3.1 rebounds a little under 15 minutes.<\/p>\n Although the last two games have been against the bottom two teams in the standings, there are still no easy games in the EuroLeague (especially for Maccabi, who often struggle to put away teams \u2013 see the \u201cugly\u201d below), Maccabi fans will be encouraged by Sorkin\u2019s individual performances over the last two games.<\/p>\n Against ALBA, Sorkin recorded 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and 2 blocks. He backed it up against ASVEL, for a season-high PIR of 21. His efforts were instrumental in the win, especially considering the impact that ASVEL\u2019s center Lauvergne had with a game-high PIR of 28. While the first half was disappointing under the basket (see the \u201cbad\u201d below), ultimately Sorkin and Josh Nebo (9 points and 7 rebounds) teamed up to combined for 8 offensive rebounds and 7 defensive rebounds, helping Maccabi outrebound their opponents 43-32. Oded Katash – Photo credit: Maccabi Tel Aviv<\/p><\/div> \u201cI think we lucked in the second half,\u201d Sorkin said after the game. \u201cWe didn\u2019t let them score those easy baskets, the fast breaks. We rebounded the ball and stuck to the gameplan.<\/p>\n \u201cIt [the victory] means a lot,\u201d Sorkin continued. \u201cWe have some great players, Wade and Zo made some big plays at the end and everybody. It\u2019s important to get those road wins. It\u2019s hard to play against every team in the EuroLeague and I think they\u2019re better than what the standings are showing. We\u2019re happy that we won today.\u201d Tamir Blatt – Photo Credit: Euroleague<\/p><\/div> After 11 rounds, ASVEL was averaging 79.09 points per game (which included an overtime game, the round 10 100-101 loss to Bayern Munich). However, Maccabi went into the halftime break down 45-46. To let a team that came into the game at 2-9 get 46 points in the first half, which included a 15-0 run in the second quarter, is unacceptable for a team with the quality and expectations of Maccabi.<\/p>\n The team also struggled under the basket. Coming into the game, Maccabi averaged 35.2 rebounds a game against ASVEL\u2019s 32.6 rebounds a game. However, after 20 minutes, ASVEL were leading the rebound count 19-17. Lauvergne alone had 6 rebounds (including 4 on the offensive end). For Maccabi, Nebo and Sorkin together had 6 rebounds.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to be more aggressive defensively, more focused,\u201d Katash said prior to the start of the second half. \u201cOur good minutes start from our defense. On the other side, their good is from our turnovers. We have to calm down, relax a little bit, work through our defense.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the worst halves we\u2019ve played all season,\u201d Baldwin said going into the locker room at halftime. \u201cWe need to play a better second half. We\u2019re dealing with some stuff outside of basketball, but it was a terrible half. We need to get better and find a rhythm in the second half.\u201d Jake Cohen – Photo Credit: Euroleague<\/p><\/div> \u201cWe have to give a lot of credit to ASVEL,\u201d Katash said of the close finish. \u201cThey had great one-on-one situations and they punished us with that, but we found a way to win. I can say that \u2013 we find a way to win \u2013 and I\u2019m happy for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe dug down defensively, got some rebounds, and we just played a little bit tougher,\u201d Baldwin said of being able to ultimately get the win. \u201cWhen we get in our mood and our rhythm of playing fast, playing tough, being the aggressor, good things happen for us. In that first half, we allowed ASVEL push us around a little bit with their size at the four and the five position, but we made the adjustments and ended up winning the game.\u201d Lorenzo Brown – Photo Credit: Euroleague<\/p><\/div> \u201cIt has to start with the good defense and to control the rebounding and then we can go,\u201d Katash said of what his team needs to improve on going forward. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t our best game, defensively we can and we should play better, which we\u2019ll try to do two days from now [against Bologna].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a double-week in the EuroLeague,\u201d Sorkin said. \u201cWe\u2019re used to it from last year, it\u2019ll be a tough game against Bologna on the road. We\u2019ll try our best to win that game too.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Maccabi Tel Aviv started the double-week with a 94-91 win in France against ASVEL Villeurbanne, taking their record to 7-5 and equal fourth in the standings with Monaco and Baskonia. Wade Baldwin IV (21 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal and 1 block), Lorenzo Brown (16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists), Roman Sorkin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":99553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[4,81,4045],"class_list":["post-99541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-holy-land-hoops","tag-maccabi-tel-aviv","tag-roman-sorkin","tag-wade-baldwin","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe Good: Sorkin<\/strong>
\nWhile Baldwin was the game\u2019s MVP \u2013 with a team-high performance index rating (PIR) of 27, including blocking De Colo\u2019s attempt to level the scores at the buzzer, as he continues to get better and better since his return from injury \u2013 it was Sorkin\u2019s performance which gets the \u201cgood\u201d tonight.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2c40fe6d-5a50-4dbf-9d6c-5b6857d4b1af.jpeg\")
\nCoach Oded Katash will hope that Sorkin can maintain the consistency, especially in the upcoming game against a strong Virtus Bologna team against whom Maccabi should have the advantage in the front court, with the Yellow & Blue averaging 35.5 rebounds per 40 minutes against 32.6 rebounds of the Italians.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/tamir.jpg\")
\nThe Bad: The First Half<\/strong>
\nWhile there may have been some positive takeaways from the first half \u2013 a 19-3 run, which was began with a buzzer-beater from Tamir Blatt (9 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal) to end the first quarter \u2013 overall it was a poor performance from the Yellow & Blue. The problem, as it has been all season, was the defense.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jake.jpg\")
\nThe Ugly: Inability to put away teams<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s clear that Maccabi is a much better team than ASVEL this season, however the game still came down to the wire. There are still clear lapses in concentration that would concern Katash and the team, such as unsportsmanlike fouls down the stretch, as well as missed free throws. Both the team and the fans would like to be able to put away their opponents at the end of games on a consistent basis. Ultimately, Maccabi came away with the W, however against better teams \u2013 like Barcelona 90-92 loss to Barcelona \u2013 they may not be so lucky. When it comes to the end of the regular season, the difference between making the playoffs or the play-in, or having homecourt advantage for the quarterfinals, will depend on Maccabi\u2019s ability to finish games strongly.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/zo-vs-asvel-169.jpg\")
\nUp Next: Shabbat evening in Italy<\/strong>
\nMaccabi now prepares for the back half of the double-week, with a round 13 game scheduled for Friday night (21:30 IST \/ 14:30 EST) away to a Bologna team sitting outright in 3rd place in the standings at 8 wins and 4 losses after a come-from-behind 80-75 victory over second-placed Barcelona in round 12. <\/p>\n