MIES (Switzerland) - If it meant we could watch Galatasaray MCT Technic and Pallacanestro Trieste duke it out over a seven-game series, we would probably all sign up for a change in the competition regulations.
Well, we can't and we wouldn't really, but still, you get the point.
Every season, the Regular Season seems to throw up a matchup between two high-level teams that comes down to the finest of margins every time they meet, and this is one of those match-ups.
After losing their first three games in the BCL, Trieste looked dead and buried.
They had been so close when they lost the home game against Galatasaray 90-91, but had been well handled by both Wurzburg and Igokea on the road, either side of that. But then the redemption arc began.
After man-handling Igokea 115-90 at home, they then travelled to Istanbul to face an unbeaten Galatasaray team ranked #1 in the Ameresco Power Rankings needing a win to have any chance of rescuing a spot in the Play-Ins.
And win they did, returning the favor of winning by a single digit, with their last shot of the game.
Not only did they get the win, but they also stamped their authority on the game. Do we have a late contender entering the arena? Or was this a flash in the pan?
Let's dive into the film and have a look.
Painting by numbers
In the first battle between these two clubs, Gala made their size count with 48 points in the paint, whilst Trieste were only able to muster 34. This time around, the roles were reversed, as Trieste poured in 44 points in the paint, whilst holding Gala - one of the most physically dominant teams in the BCL - to 32.
The main architect of this change in fortunes for Trieste was unequivocally Mady Sissoko. The rookie big had shown his potential all season, but this was his BCL coming-out party.
His 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks, on the road in one of the most hostile atmospheres, and against one of the competition's very best teams, firmly locked his place amongst the very best paint warriors in the BCL this season.
And it was almost as if Israel Gonzalez knew this performance was coming from his Malian monster. The very first play of the game, Gonzalez drew up their Horns play with a Shuffle action to find Sissoko in the low post.
Even if he didn't draw this play to open the game because he intended to send a message, the message was received regardless.
If that action looks familiar, that's because you've been paying attention. When we broke down the first game, Trieste used that play twice late in the fourth quarter to tie the game.
That wasn't the only action that Trieste used to get paint touches. In fact, inexplicably, that was the only time in the game that Gonzalez called that play.
Far more telling in terms of Trieste's ability to get the ball inside was their drive and dish game from their playmakers, and their relentless pace in transition (more on this later).
Playmakers, Michele Ruzzier and Markel Brown, had 7 assists each, whilst Juan Toscano-Anderson's relentless effort yielded another 3.
Watch the clip below and look at how much wider the target area is for the pass when the recipient has the wingspan and sticky hands that Mady Sissoko brings to the table.
Speed kills
We mentioned the pace that Trieste relentlessly enforced in this game, but even if the stats don't really illustrate it, the way that the Italians stamped their brand of basketball on this game in transition was easily the most impressive part of this win.
They played at a pace of 75 possessions in this game, which is only 1 possession above their season average and actually pretty close to Galatasaray for the season as well but to the eye test, it was clear to see that the sheer speed and execution on fast breaks were the difference between the two teams in this game.
In both the clips in that video above, Trieste had pulled the rebound and pushed the ball down the floor in time to get the shot off within five seconds.
In the second half, that relentlessness yielded spectacular results as the constant sprints down the floor translated into lob opportunities. Toscano-Anderson is one of, if not the best, transition players in the BCL, and he showed it in both directions in the third and fourth quarters of this game.
Hitting the mark
For all the execution and willpower in the paint, it's still going to take more than that to beat Gala in their home arena.
Yakup Sekizkok's team actually led the game for 20 minutes of the game and with 6:17 on the clock in the fourth, they held a commanding 69-62 lead. Markel Brown spoke about the character and resilience it took to find a way to win this game, and it was his performance in the clutch that personified that character and resilience.
I thought it was a hard-fought battle. We did a great job of taking our punches and responding back with some action.
The game-winning lay-up with 5 seconds on the clock, but this performance was even more clutch than just that shot.
Brown had 7 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, including 5 points back to back as an immediate reply to Gala taking that 7-point lead.
It was also his assist to Jarrod Uthoff with 2:42 to play that gave Trieste their first lead of the final period.
And the best part of this whole story for Israel Gonzalez and Trieste? Not only were they the first team to beat Gala this season, but Fitness First Wurzburg Baskets also beat Igokea m:tel, securing Trieste's spot in the Play-Ins.
If they can find the consistency to play like this every week, Trieste will be ready for either of their potential opponents from Group F: NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz or Patrioti Levice.