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In the first semifinal CSKA Moscow immediately shows the will to win, starting with a 14-6 run. Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv starts the game without Schortsanitis, who comes in from the bench and helps to break even on 14-14. The situation remains balanced and the first quarter ends 19-16 for the Russian team. In the second quarter there’s still a slight prevalence for CSKA Moscow but Blue scores the first 3-point field goal for Maccabi, which manages to limit the gap. The first half ends 38-30 for the Russian team. In the third quarter, CSKA seems to find the run for the win reaching the maximum lead on 55-40. However, Maccabi reacts and the third quarter ends on 55-45 for the Russian team. In the fourth quarter, the Israeli team continues its comeback and the game, which seemed almost over, becomes very hot. Maccabi won an incredible Game 1 of the quarter-finals in Milan and surprisingly does it again. CSKA is ahead 67-66 in the last minute but Khryapa loses the ball and Rice scores the basket for Maccabi’s 68-67 upset win.
The second semifinal starts well for FC Barcelona, which takes the lead up to 13-6. At that point, Sergio Rodriguez is sent on the court for Real Madrid and the game changes completely. Real Madrid comes back and the first quarter ends on 20-20 but from that point on Barcelona seems to gradually disappear from the court. A balanced game was expected, instead Real Madrid takes control and keeps on increasing its lead finishing the first half with a 45-37 lead. In the third quarter, the situation doesn’t change and now Barcelona seems neither able to adequately defend on its opponents nor to score. The third quarter ends with Real Madrid leading 73-48. The fourth quarter is all an unpredictable garbage time and for the record the game ends with an amazing 100-62 for Real Madrid.
For the record, in the third place game, FC Barcelona defeated CSKA Moscow 93-78. I didn’t watch the game because I find it useless.
The final begins with great intensity and balance. Real Madrid takes a 5-2 lead but Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv answers with a 11-1 run, thanks especially to a Devin Smith really on fire. The Spanish team reacts and very some fast plays even manages to take the lead again, ending the first quarter on 16-15.
In the second quarter, Real Madrid seems to have found the right pace in its offense, also with Sergio Rodriguez coming into the court, and suddenly it also improves its defense. The Spanish team goes on with its tun reaching 26-15 before Maccabi can score its first points of the quarter. The Israeli team starts scoring 3-pointers after a negative first quarter and limits the gap. It’s thanks to a 3-pointer by David Blu that’s also a buzzer beater that the second quarter ends with a really tight lead for Real Madrid on 35-33.
The third quarter begins with an intensity even higher than the the beginning. Schortsanitis goes out almost immediately after making his third foul but Maccabi takes the lead on 41-40. Over the next few minutes, there are many lead changes in a game that has become very balanced. The third quarter ends with Real Madrid leading 55-53.
In the fourth quarter, the perfect balance between the two teams goes on. Among many baskets as well as errors from both sides, the emotions rise up more and more going towards the end of the game. They arrive at the last minute, when Rice scores giving Maccabi its greatest lead of the second half on 73-69. Real Madrid ties the score and regulation ends on 73-73.
In the overtime Rice becames Maccabi’s absolute leader scoring points and also giving an alley-oop assist to Tyus. It’s thanks to him that the Israeli team has more energy than Real Madrid and is able to gradually accumulate a small lead up to 88-79. The Spanish team tries to answer but now the gap is too wide and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv wins the game and the Euroleague 2013-2014 98-86.
For Real Madrid it’s another disappointment after having already lost last year’s final. The team is very strong but in the end was missing something, not just for their faults but also because of their opponents. Surely the’ll try again next season.
Honestly I gave Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv 10% chance of winning this Euroleague. However, in the end the team absolutely deserved the win by playing the quarter-finals at very high level and the Final Four even better. Coach David Blatt isn’t old – he’s about to turn 55 – but he’s a fox and very higly skilled as a coach. His players in the court gave him what he needed and the Israeli team can now enjoy an extraordinary victory.
