After a low-key start to the season, Jaleen Smith has become a crucial player for ALBA Berlin.
Smith took over late for ALBA
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It’s fair to say that Smith needed some time to settle into life in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Having shot to prominence by becoming the German league MVP with Ludwigsburg last season, he could not initially replicate that form as he stepped up to the EuroLeague level – he failed to score 10 points in any of his first five games in the competition, making just 5 of 24 three-point attempts during that period.
But the 27-year-old has now fully adjusted to Europe’s elite level of basketball, recording his seventh consecutive double-digit scoring game with 14 points – along with 6 assists – as ALBA boosted its playoffs hopes with a big 57-66 win at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on Tuesday.
His contributions came at crucial times, too. With Fenerbahce attempting to rally from a 10-point deficit, Smith scored his first field goals of the game by downing a pair of triples early in the fourth quarter. And when the score got stuck at 62-70 for more than 2 minutes in the latter stages, it was Smith who again appeared with a deep strike to effectively seal the deal – and then added his fourth three-pointer of the night just to make sure.
Smith has now struck at least 3 three-pointers in six of his last seven games and his growing scoring prowess gives ALBA reason to believe that a shock playoff berth is still within reach.