Maccabi Tel Aviv's title-winning play exposed a costly defensive breakdown by Hapoel Tel Aviv

Maccabi Tel Aviv clinched the championship with a 79-83 win on Tuesday night, and one late possession became the defining moment. At 75-76 to Maccabi, Tai Odiase went to the line, missed the first free throw and made the second, and what followed gave Hapoel Tel Aviv little chance to stop the decisive play.

After the free throws, Maccabi did not rush. Brady Bristine moved the ball slowly, and Iffe Lundberg took about four seconds just to cross midcourt. In all, it took nearly six seconds and six dribbles before the first pass, enough time for the defense to get set.

The article says Hapoel had three big men on the floor, Ish Wainright, Tomer Ginat and Tai Odiase. Wainright, who had guarded Roman Sorkin successfully through much of the series, was tasked with limiting Lundberg, and that switch left Odiase confused and Sorkin unmarked in the corner.

At the same time, coach Dimitris Itoudis had gone to the scorer’s table to request a timeout, and his assistants reacted too late. Vasilije Micic noticed the mistake and shouted at Odiase to get back to Sorkin, but the pass was already on its way. Sorkin, who had a poor game, still did not hesitate to take the shot. The result was simple: net, game, championship.