Energy that electrifies the crowd: Are Fenerbahce building a new identity? / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Tolga Adanali/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

It was already the middle of the 2nd quarter, and the lights in Atasehir were dimming down as cheerful chants were subtly fading out in disbelief.

Player of the Game EFF 27 Marko Guduric Points 19 Accuracy 6-11 Rebounds 4 Assists 5

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul were down by 17, and another heartbreaking loss at home was seen on the horizon. As Jan Vesely and Nando De Colo couldn't come to the rescue while coach Sasha Djordjevic was deprived of being on the bench due to Covid-19 isolation.

"It was a very difficult encounter. In the first half, we had a hard time offensively," Fenerbahce's assistant coach Goran Bjedov summarized that painful start. "If I remember correctly, we made 1 out of 10 3-pointers. We were rushing, made hasty choices. We took difficult shots. We also gave 9 offensive rebounds."

At halftime, Zalgiris were leading 30-24. But beyond all, the quality of the game was nowhere near the EuroLeague level. Nothing looked particularly exciting, as much as basketball is concerned. An offensive massacre, one could say.

"We knew we had to change something, especially in defense, and then we know that anyone can score on offense as well," Achille Polonara said. "If you move the ball, you will find the shots. First of all, we have to do everything defensively."

In the absence of Danilo Barthel and upon the early foul problem of Devin Booker, the Italian big had to stay a total of 39:06 minutes on the court to score 10 points and add 8 rebounds. More importantly, he hit those clutch shots on the way to the comeback.

"Even though I've been playing for this long, I still have enough energy to play a game," he added by dropping the keyword of this season's Fenerbahce.

For this season, it is hard to disagree that Fenerbahce miss all-around quality and their usual quality basketball that the fans got so much accustomed to in the previous seasons.

2-pointers this season

58%20,8Points made:20,8Accuracy:57,6%Place in standings:3Record max:26Record min:13Most made 2FGs:Jan VeselyTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

But suddenly generated energy saved the day many times, lighting up the crowd into the game with a lot of enthusiasm to turn the fate of the encounter.

The usual suspect for those instantaneous but yet, impactful injections of heartbeat impulses is no one other than Sehmus Hazer, Fenerbahce's young first-year guard.

"I was very tired at the beginning of the match. The tiredness was caused by the consecutive matches (I played in), and I was not feeling well in the first 3 minutes," Hazer said after the game. "I came over to the edge and had a chance to get some rest."

Hazer had to take more responsibilities than the other games where he supported the main pillars like De Colo or Pierria Henry at the point. Tonight more was required.

Henry was barely effective with an injury that almost sidelined him. Ismet Akpinar, the other guard who could bring some experience on the court, was also unavailable.

"We win most of the high-energy matches. I think this is our character. We share the ball, and we enjoy the game as we share the ball." Hazer says. "The support given by the fans was also important to us. I can say that when we got tired, we reflected that energy on the field with their support."

Then, there came a revelation. Fenerbahce started to rally with aggressive defense, and they were much better in the offensive end with those semi-transition possessions.

Hazer found himself alone in the corner at the end of the 3rd quarter. Bang! His second made three in the period cut the deficit to four.

"I was working on the same spot where I made the 3-pointer in training. This match came, and I scored," said the 22-year-old.

That was not all.

Hazer has already made a name for himself as a good hustler and explosive dunker. He was given a chance to show those skills to NBA teams in the Summer League. Now, it was Zalgiris to pay the price for his fierceness.

Another 'Bang!' A posterizing dunk came right after a ferocious hustle in the middle of the court. Dizzy with the electrified crowd and at the highest point of the adrenaline rush, he was, sitting on the ground and standing high above in the entire stadium, roaring with existentialist tunes.

"The support given by the fans was also important to us. I can say that when we got tired, we reflected that energy on the field with their support. After starting the second half, somehow we had energy. I can say that I made that dunk with the energy that comes in a moment," Hazer explained those momentum changer moments.

As they were now within touching distance to the win, Fenerbahce started to believe.

"We never gave up," Bjedov continued. "We played most of the second half with the same five, and these five players did everything they could in their time on the court. We took a step in defense, especially as the key points of the match, and we never gave up. So it was a great win for us."

Zalgiris had their own reservations with the Covid-19 related absences of Paulius Jankunas, Arturas Milaknis, and Tai Webster, not to mention the regular injury problems.

But they had the control of the game for almost 3,5 periods, thanks to a pleasantly surprising step-up effort from their youngers, Marek Blazevic (10 points 10 rebounds double-double) and Karolis Lukosuinovas (15 points, 5/13 from 3 FG, career-high) as well as exemplary leadership of Edgaras Ulanovas (16 points, 7 rebounds).

Towards the end of the game, all the eyes turned to Marko Guduric. As a natural candidate to become the hero of the game in the absence of the other big names, it was now his turn to carry his team to victory. It wasn't easy to make this happen, though.

The Serbian combo swingman finished the first half with only 3 points in his account. All the rest came after 5:00 minutes left in the 3rd, but he managed to make the big shots to score 19 points and provide 5 assists to complete the mission. His third and final 3-pointer literally handed the win to Fenerbahce.

"One of the most important games of my career this season, I have to say. It's also one of the best wins," Guduric admitted. "I am very proud of this team. Despite all the problems we went through - injuries, Covid-19, not having the coach, not practicing with the group - it was incredible."

"We were down 17 points, we came back, and we won. I am really proud. Pierria Henry hasn't been able to practice at all week and just attended pre-game training, and it was amazing," he added.

Not the tidiest, nice looking and eloquent win of the season, for sure. But probably, this will go as one of the most underrated comebacks. Fenerbahce brought Zalgiris down from a double-digit deficit to win two games in succession for the first time in more than a month.

With the home victory against Olympiacos already in the pocket, playoff spots suddenly appear not so distant.

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