Avery Bradley’s Finale With Hapoel Jerusalem (and Grunfeld’s debut)

November 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

On Monday night, Hapoel Jerusalem inched out a close win, 85-79, on the road against Elitzur Netanya, in what will ultimately be Boston Celtic’s guard Avery Bradley’s last game in Israel. Jerusalem earned the win as former Illinois product, Brian Randle (21 points), managed to hold down the paint to help his team withstand the hot shooting of Netanya’s guards, Arkansas State’s Adrian Banks (25 points), and Cal’s Jerome Randle (22 points). While the game was hard fought and close until the closing seconds, mostly due to Jerusalem’s woeful free throw shooting (13/26), it will ultimately be remembered as the closing act of Bradley’s short time in Israel.

Bradley’s stint with Jerusalem comes to a close less than a month after he landed in Israel, after a mediocre three game showing in which he averaged 13.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 0.7 assists and 3.7 turnovers in 30.7 minutes per game. Bradley didn’t sign with Jerusalem until the end of the preseason, and for the second consecutive season, he joined a team without going through training camp. Coming in without a chance to learn the system, Bradley didn’t really have an opportunity to get on the same page with his teammates. This game was the first time Bradley seemed to understand the team’s plays and defensive schemes, and it’s a shame he isn’t willing to stick around longer to see what he can do.

Hapoel Jerusalem plays in the Eurocup, a highly competitive international league that is essentially the second division of the Euroleague. Bradley’s 10 AM Tuesday morning flight comes exactly one week before Jerusalem was set to open their season in the Eurocup. It is understandable that Bradley has felt homesick and frustrated playing in Israel, but without a signed collective bargaining agreement, his decision to return home is quite perplexing. He was just starting to get a feel for the system, and he had a chance to get some good minutes on one of the bigger teams in Europe. Instead, Bradley may find it difficult to find work overseas if the lockout ends up wiping out the entire season and more NBA players head to Europe.

Bradley definitely was an above average player in his time with Jerusalem, but he fell far short of the lofty expectations that accompanied him. Many expected Bradley could come to Israel and dominate right away, forgetting that he is a 21 year old with very little experience and a shaky jumper. Jerusalem is a team with a strong tradition, and I’m not sure Bradley was prepared to adjust to the playing style and demands of a big European team. Tonight it appeared that Bradley had found his niche on Hapoel, as he showed immense creativity in getting himself to the basket, but it looks like his time will end before he has a chance to put it all together.

The game was also (Stanford product and New Jersey native) bobble head connoisseur Dan Grunfeld’s first game with Jerusalem after he transferred from Hapoel Holon several days earlier. Grunfeld, who became an Israeli citizen last year, was the leading scorer among Israeli players last season, with 13.7 points per game for Bnei Hasharon. The signing should prove to be a major boost for Jerusalem both on and off the court, as Grunfeld has a high basketball IQ, which should be valuable when preparing for Eurocup games, and his presence in the locker room will hopefully bring some stability to a group that has been having some issues lately. When asked what his feelings were on signing with Jerusalem, Grunfeld said, “I’m very happy to be part of a club like Hapoel Jerusalem. Hapoel has a lot of tradition and I’m excited to get familiar with my teammates and to try to help the team win games. Playing in European competition is also a great opportunity to compete against some of the best teams overseas, so I’m really looking forward to that.”

All in all, Bradley’s short tenure in Israel serves as another reminder to Americans, that NBA players and top level college players cannot just come overseas and destroy people as many would like to believe. It is not uncommon for players who either played in the NBA, or were all-conference players in college, to come overseas and really struggle. The only players who truly excel in Europe are the ones who come over with a respectful attitude, take the time to learn about their teams before signing, and are prepared to make adjustments and work their butts off. Without coming prepared and in the right mindset, NBA player or not, it is very difficult to succeed overseas.

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Bnei Hasharon – Maccabi Rishon: Game 4 Preview

May 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment

After a gut wrenching loss at home, Bnei Hasharon will fight for their playoff lives tomorrow in Rishon Lezziyon. With a 2-1 deficit heading into Game Four of its first round playoff series with Maccabi Rishon, Bnei Hasharon’s season will come to a close with a loss in “Wine Town.” After struggling in the second half of its previous two match ups, the team will need to pull everything together to save its season.

Over the course of the year, Bnei Hasharon has shown that they are very tough to beat when they focus and work together. However, in this series, the offense has looked lost in the second half of games, filled with many sloppy turnovers and very few open looks. It will be up to point guard, Ron Steele, to take back command of the offense, just as he has throughout the season. When Steele takes control of the game, his penetration and court vision open up the offense of wing men Ben Rice, Filberto Rivera and Dan Grunfeld, which in turn opens up the middle for big men Shawn James, Lee Nailon and Bryant Dunston. Unfortunately, to this point in the series, the flow of the team’s offense has been disrupted, mostly thanks to the stifling defense of Dwayne Mitchel and Raymar Morgan, resulting in errant passes and difficult shot attempts.

Bnei Hasharon may be down, but they are not out for the count. Throughout the season, the team has shown an ability to come together and take on tough challenges, such as when they took down Maccabi Tel-Aviv earlier this season. Even after two tough losses, there is no doubt that head coach, Dan Shamir, will have his team prepared to lay everything on the line in Rishon Lezziyon on Sunday evening. While Raymar Morgan surely will come prepared to fight his way to his third consecutive Final Four, after two straight appearances in the big dance with Michigan State University, his ticket to the Nokia Theater will not come without a fight. Be sure to tune in Sunday night at 19:45 to catch Game Four of this exciting playoff series.

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Bnei Hasharon – Maccabi Rishon: 2011 Playoffs Game 3

May 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Returning to their home floor, Bnei Hasharon looked to take back control of their first round playoff series against Maccabi Rishon. With the series tied 1-1 entering Thursday night’s showdown, it was imperative that Bnei Hasharon protect it’s home court, as a win Game Four win on the road in Rishon Leziyyon may prove difficult. Unfortunately, it was a tale of two halves for Bnei Hasharon, as they dropped Game Three 82-75, despite bringing an eight point lead into the break at halftime.

After a miserable performance in Game Two, where he shot 1-12, Center, Shawn James, dominated inside in the first quarter, going off for 9 points on 4/5 shooting in the first quarter, with an array of post moves and dunks to go with a several thunderous blocks. With control of the pain, Bnei Hasharon held on to a six point lead going into the last possession of the first quarter. With time expiring in the first, former FSU guard Isaiah Swann hit a three pointer, cutting Bnei Hasharon’s lead to three and silencing the crowd, especially after witnessing Swann go off for 25 points in Herzliya in Game 24.

In the second quarter, Bnei Hasharon began to control the game at both ends of the floor, playing stifling defense and continuing their game plan attacking the paint, scoring 18 points in the paint and 10 second chance point. After getting killed in the paint up to this point in the series, Bnei Hasharon took control of the paint in the second quarter of the game, dominating the glass on both ends of the court, holding a 23-14 rebounding lead in the first half. Having Shawn James engaged is so vital for Bnei Hasharon, as they clearly as a far superior team when he is a major factor down low. Despite getting thoroughly outplayed, former MSU forward Raymar Morgan kept Rishon in the game, going 4/4 from long range in the first half.  At the end of the first half  Bnei Hasharon led 42-34, led by Filberto Rivera with 10 points, James  with 13 points and 5 rebound.

Just as they had the entire second half of the season, Bnei Hasharon came out playing sloppy, unfocused basketball in the third quarter, scoring only thirteen points as they turned their eight point halftime lead into a four point deficit by the end of the third. The team went away from running the offense through the post, and turned the ball over with a variety of travels, errant passes and charges, as the team kept the ball on the perimeter, without really attacking the rim, or throwing the ball inside. When asked in the post game what the team needs to do psychologically to prevent the third quarter collapses that have plagued the team all season, Bnei Hasharon head coach Dan Shamir answered, “They definitely were playing more than OK in the first half and I didn’t feel that they played badly in the third quarter. They got called for three or four walks, but I don’t think they didn’t play right, they were called for a lot of travels. They need to just prepare for the next game, they don’t need to do anything different psychologically other than prepare for the next game.”

Again the officials decided to make an impact on the game, calling seven travels throughout the course of a game. After watching close to 300 NBA games this season, I think I have maybe seen seven travels called in the NBA all season. When asked if he had seen so many travels called in a game, Maccabi Rishon head coach Effi Birenboim answered, “In the NBA a lot of the time they put the ball down, take two steps and there is no travel call. Here in Europe the referees call a travel sometimes when a player takes one step, and nobody has a choice but to move on to the next play.” While it may be frustrating that so many travels are ignored in the NBA, it can be equally frustrating to watch a pro game in which referees decide to occasionally call a travel for players taking one step.

Despite some clutch shooting and smooth drive from Dan Grunfeld (16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) andShawn James going off for 22 points and 9 rebounds, Bnei Hasharon couldn’t hold off Raymar Morgan’s hot shooting (22 points, 5/6 from 3), as they dropped Game Three 82-75. Bnei Hasharon picked it up on offense late in the fourth, however, it is difficult to come back late in a game when your opponent knocks down their free throws, as Rishon went 4-4 from the line in the closing minute of the game.

With the series going back to Rishon Leziyyon for Game Four, Bnei Hasharon will be fighting for their survival in a sea of orange. Their dominance inside was promising in the first half, however their loss of focus in the third quarter was troubling, considering the importance of the game. If Bnei Hasharon is intent on making it’s way to the final four, the team needs to come out strong for 40 minutes next Thursday in Rishon Leziyyon. With their playoff lives on the line, look for Bnei Hasharon to bring everything they have. Be sure to tune in on Sunday, May 15th for Game Four.

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Bnei Hasharon – Maccabi Rishon: Game 3 Preview

May 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Tomorrow night, Bnei Hasharon will be looking to avenge their loss last week in Rishon Leziyon, at home in Game Three of the 2011 playoffs. Maccabi “Offici” Rishon may have won a dog fight in Game Two to stop Bnei Hasharon’s momentum, however, they merely took care of their home court. It takes more than one game to win a playoff series, and it will be up to Bnei Hasharon to prove that their woes in the paint in the last game were merely an aberration.

Look for Shawn James to reestablish himself as a force inside, after a miserable 1-12 performance in Game Two. James was the league leader in both rebounds and blocked shots throughout the year, and look for him to come back in Game Three with a vengeance, and continue to dominate the paint the way he has all season. With the intense level of aggressiveness that Rishon’s front line has brought from the start of the series, it’s imperative that Bnei Hasharon’s big men increase their intensity, as they have most of the season.

While last week’s loss was heart wrenching for Bnei Hasharon, it takes more than one game to win a playoff series. The frustration at the end of the game, may have left a lasting impact on the team and its fans throughout the week, but it only counts as one game in the standings. With home court advantage still intact, look for Bnei Hasharon to come out firing back on their home floor tomorrow night. Be sure to come cheer on “Eshet Tours” Bnei Hasharon, tomorrow, Thursday, May 12th, at 19:45 at HaYovel Arena, 24 Rashi Street, Herzliya.

Be sure to check http://BneiHasharon.com or at Bnei Hasharon’s Facebook page  for a full game recap and photo gallery.

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Bnei-Hasharon vs. Rishon Leziyon Game 2

May 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

After a hard fought battle in Rishon Leziyyon, the referees felt a need to make their impact at the end of Game Two in the first round series between Bnei Hasharon and Maccabi Rishon. In a game that was decided in the closing minutes, Maccabi Rishon took care of business on their home floor, winning 81-79.

Raymar Morgan came out of the gate strong, with a jumper and two strong drives in the opening minutes. It was apparent from Morgan’s high energy at the start of the game, that after going to the NCAA Final Four the past two seasons with MSU, he is not willing to settle for less in his first season as a pro. After Rishon guard, Isaiah Swann, knocked down a three in the early going, to give Rishon a 9-3 lead, it seemed like it was going to be a long night for Bnei Hasharon, playing a fired-up team in front of their home crowd. However, Ron Steele didn’t budge and took control of the team at both ends of the floor, keeping Bnei Hasharon in the game.

Coming into the series, it seemed that the biggest advantage Bnei Hasharon had, was its superior size and skill in the paint. While there is no doubt that the team has the horses to demolish Rishon inside, with Shawn James, Lee Nailon and Bryant Dunston, Bnei Hasharon has been losing the battle inside early on in this series. The team was badly outplayed inside in the first quarter, giving up ten points in the paint, while scoring only two points, and giving up five offensive rebounds without securing one of their own.While Bnei Hasharon ran plays early on for James and Nailon, both were forced into several tough looks, that didn’t drop. Despite being sorely outplayed, Bnei Hasharon only trailed by one at the half, mostly thanks to Steele, who kept the offense flowing.

Bnei Hasharon came out in attack mode to start the second half, as Ben Rice took matters into his own hands, blowing by the defense for a monsterous slam on the first play of the third quarter. With Rice, Nailon and Grunfeld all coming out aggressive, Bnei Hasharon climbed to a five point lead early in the third quarter, which would represent the largest lead either team would have for the rest of the game. Unfortunately, their struggles in the paint continued to haunt Bnei Hasharon in the second half.

While Rishon center, Aaron McGhee, attacked with an assortment of spin moves and runners in the lane on his way to a 20 point, 10 rebound performance, Shawn James had one of his most frustrating performances of the season. Typically, Bnei Hasharon goes stretches where they run their offense through James in the post, but James just couldn’t get it going, missing jump hooks that he normally knocks down. While much of James’ struggles can be attributed to just having an off game, it is a bit perplexing to think that a 6″11 player can take 12 shots around the basket, but only draw enough contact to get sent to the line once throughout the entire contest.

With McGhee and Morgan scoring in a variety of ways early on in the fourth quarter, Rishon seemed to grab the momentum, going up by five with five minutes remaining. Just as the game seemed like it might be getting out of reach, Lee Nailon caught fire, scoring eleven points in a two and a half minute stretch. Nailon showed in crunch time, that even at age 36, he is the best isolation scorer in the Israeli League. With less than a minute and a half remaining Dan Grunfeld hit a huge three, to give the team a one point lead. Unfortunately, it was down hill from there for Bnei Hasharon.

After a questionable call with 1:15 left in the fourth, Nailon merely reacted the way any player would react to a late game playoff call, with disbelief. Unfortunately, the referees decided to make sure we’d remember they played a part in the game, so they gave Nailon a technical foul, rewarding Maccabi Rishon with four free throws and possession of the ball, thereby turning a one point Bnei Hasharon lead to a three point deficit, while fouling out Nailon, who had scored 11 of his team’s last 13 points. Bnei Hasharon didn’t lay down, as Filberto Rivera immediately took the ball coast to coast for a layup after McGhee’s free throws. After being forced to foul Swann, who made one of his two free throws, the fate of the game rested on Ron Steele, who missed a clean look at a three pointer as the clock wound down on Game Two.

While it may be easy to place the blame on the officials for Wednesday night’s loss, Bnei Hasharon wouldn’t have put the officials in the position to decide the game had they shown more presence in the paint. If the team is to made a strong run at a championship, they are going to need to score more points inside, and do a much better job on the boards. With the series coming back to Herzliya next Thursday for Game Three, it is imperative that James recapture the command he has had over the paint this season. With game 2 in the books, Bnei Hasharon needs to wipe this one off, and prepare to take care of business on its home floor.

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