With a 2-0 mark to start its return BKT EuroCup season, Besiktas is showing that it’s a contender whether relying on defense or offense.
Besiktas believes on both ends of the court
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Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul showed in Round 1 in its return to the BKT EuroCup that it can win big games with defense. In Round 2, it added offensive power to defensive dominance in dropping another big opponent.
Besiktas had four players score in double figures in downing Prometey Slobozhanske at its own game 92-70 for a 2-0 mark in Group A. The Ukrainian opponent was one of the EuroCup's top-scoring teams last season, and opened this one by dropping 97 points on Veolia Towers Hamburg in Round 1.
But Besiktas's defense is at a different level than Hamburg's, the EuroCup returnees having held for a 62-63 road win over perennial contender Joventut Badalona in the season's opening week. Now, it has two great defensive performances against semifinalists from last season.
"That was something really special for us," Besiktas head coach Dusan Alimpijevic said after beating Prometey. "After a long time, winning a EuroCup game in front of our fans, I am really proud of these guys. We played good basketball, good defense, and we stopped them doing the best thing they do, which is [run in the] open court."
As against Joventut, Besiktas's perimeter defense excelled against Prometey, which made just 5 of 20 three-pointers, or 25.0%, after Joventut made just 2 of 16 for 12.5%.
The Besiktas defense was especially strong against the duo of Davon Reed and Marcus Keene. Both Americans hit 3 three-pointers and combined for 30 points and 9 assists against Hamburg. On the court of Besiktas, Reed left the game early in the third quarter with an injury but went scoreless while Keene made just 1 of 10 shots for 3 points. They combined for 4 assists.
Besiktas came up with just enough offense against Joventut, committing 16 turnovers and shooting just 39.5% on two pointers, 30.0% on threes. Yigit Arslan scored 13 points off the bench and Berkan Durmaz was the only starter in double figures with 10 points.
Against Prometey, however, Alimpijevic saw his men make 10 of 21 three-pointers, a 47.6% rate, while shooting 57.9% inside the arc and committing just 9 turnovers.
Arslan posted a new career high with 24 points and Jonah Mathews added 22. Matthew Mitchell contributed 12 points and Angel Delgado chipped in 11 points and 11 rebounds.
"I am happy we were able to pull it out and show what we are really able to do," said Mitchell, who did not play in Round 1 because of an injury. "We haven't been fully healthy for one game this year. So playing this way with nine guys, Coach has full belief in us. We have full belief in each other. And I think we showed that tonight."
Besiktas has shown against two great opponents that its defense is strong. If it can reproduce the Round 2 offensive performance on a regular basis, there might be another challenger in the EuroCup this season.