Several trends have emerged in the BKT EuroCup Semifinals that could shape the action moving forward.
Stats review: Trends to watch in Game 2
Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul vs. Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse
Screeners
Bourg's roll men poured in a season-high 17 points in Game 1 as Bodian Massa made the most of his touches whenever Besiktas repeatedly brought two defenders to the ball. His ability to make jumpers off short rolls from the free throw line proved especially useful and was a big reason Bourg was able to establish the first-half margin that they held the rest of the way.
Rim protection
Bourg held Besiktas to 10-for-18 shooting around the rim in half-court situations but conceded 13 points in free throws via the fouls they committed around the rim. Besiktas held Bourg to 12-for-23 shooting and 7 points on resulting free throws. Both teams did a very good job protecting the rim, but how they balance that with their physicality could be a point of interest as they combined to shoot 63 free throws in Game 1.
Besiktas's backcourt
Besiktas got a season-low 2 points from its ball handlers off pick-and-rolls in Game 1. While that clearly effected the outcome – with some credit is due to Bourg's defense, especially Jequan Lewis – Besiktas had finished third in the regular season in ball handler scoring in the two-man game. It would seem the Turkish team is due for a regression to the mean in Game 2. The aggressiveness of Derek Needham, Jonah Mathews and Kyle Allman is a big reason that Besiktas has had such a strong campaign. The last time they struggled similarly together, a couple months ago, they came back to combine on 28.5 points per game out of ball screens alone over the next two games.
London Lions vs. Paris Basketball
Pick-and-rolls
In Game 1, Paris generated 56 points over 48 possessions used by their ball handlers or created by their passes out of pick-and-rolls. Both the most prolific and efficient ball-screen offense in the EuroCup, Paris exceeded its 57% conversion rate in such situations during the regular by boosting that figure to 70% in Game 1. London's ability to find answers guarding the ball figures to be critical to any chance of extending this series to a third game.
Full-court pressure
Few teams anywhere in professional basketball defend in the back court as often as Paris. In Game 1, they pressed for 25 possessions, in line with their season averages, and forced 9 turnovers from those possessions. Nearly all those turnovers occurred after London had already broken the press and started its half-court offense. At the same time, when not turning the ball over, London shot 69% in those situations. Facing pressure or not, how London takes care of the ball is key considering that its reserves turned the ball over 10 times in Game 1.
Paint points
London produced 66 points while shooting a stellar 66% around the rim in Game 1. While the Lions shot exceptionally well around the rim all year, that is 15 more points per game than their season average. David Nwaba played a key role in those efforts, scoring 22 of his 26 points in the lane. How consistently this offense can put pressure on the rim figures to be an x-factor against a Paris defense whose priorities lie elsewhere.