Omer Adam? Welcome to the Raz Adam Show/ Shai Boker

Shai Boker
19 ביולי 2019
זמן קריאה 4 דקות

Raz Adam. Another big game for him. (FIBA.Basketball)

Raz Adam was huge yet again with 17 points and extraordinary hustle plays. The rest of the bench was huge as well and of course Deni Avdija supplied a great showing in a 94:78 victory over Lithuania. Israel moved on to the semifinals where they’ll take on France who beat Croatia earlier in the day. Lithuania will fight for the 5th seed. Game summary, five takeaways, interviews and scores from a busy day of basketball await.

Game Summary

Israel came out on fire early running the break, and finding easy points in transition, and following an Amit Suss three-pointer took an early 11:2 lead. Avdija got his first field goal on the next possession by burying a three-point field goal of his own and forcing Lithuania to call a timeout trailing 14:4 with 5:17 to play in the first quarter. Luka Uleckas woke the Greens up with consecutive points, but Adam entered off the bench and immediately hit a triple of his own to give his team a 17:9 lead. Uleckas once again didn’t think too much of Israel’s lead and with help from Ignas Sargiunas who finished with a layup, flipped the scoreboard and took an 17:18 lead. Yam Madar would decide the first quarter score with a step-back deep two at 20:18 in Israel’s favor.

Avdija rises for a jumper. Another typical night for the G/F. (FIBA.Basketball)

The second quarter began much like the first quarter as Avdija made some great plays on both ends and with help from Adam and Eidan Alber the Israelis raced out to a 32:23 advantage. Vitalijus Kozys caught a hot-hand from three-point land and brought the visitors within five points at 34:29 four minutes into the second quarter. On the other side of the parquet floor, Alber caught fire, knocking down to huge triple and then making a layup that gave Israel a 47:31 lead. Kozys and Uleckas weren’t about to give up and got their team to within nine points at halftime, trailing just 53:44.

Eidan Alber celebrating. The Israeli guard known for his defense, put on a show in the second quarter. (FIBA.Basketball)

Kozys drives hoopward. Kept Lithuania within striking distance at the half. (FIBA.Basketball)

The Greens’ momentum continued into the third quarter and Uleckas brought them back to within two points at 53:51 with 8:17 to go in the quarter. Adam reentered the game and got Israel back on track on both ends of the floor and with help from Avdija, and Suss, gave Israel a 69:53 lead with 4:17 to play in the third quarter. Uleckas snapped a 14-0 Israel run with a three-pointer that cut the lead to 69:56. On the other end, the Adam show continued, as the guard connected on yet another triple. Arnas Velicka finally got a three ball to fall and after three quarters, Israel’s lead was cut down to 76:61.

Velicka couldn't find the range tonight. (FIBA.Basketball)

Velicka showed signs that he was starting to get it going for the visitors by hitting another triple in the beginning of the final 10 minutes as he cut the lead to 12. On the other end, the momentum changed as Suss and Madar raced Israel to an 84:65 lead with 5:25 remaining in the game, sealing the win. The final score was 94:78.

Israel had five players finishing in double-figures, and six with double digit in PIR:

Adam: 17 pts, 3 stls, 18 PIR

Avdija: 16 pts, 10 rebs, 5 asts, 3 stls, 4 blks, 20 PIR

Alber: 16 pts, 4 asts, 4 stls, 22 PIR

Suss: 13 pts, 7 rebs, 18 PIR

Hanochi: 11 pts, 8 rebs, 17 PIR

Madar: 7 pts, 10 asts, 3 stls, 16 PIR

The Lithuanians had four players score in double-figures:

Uleckas: 23 pts, 27 PIR

Kozys: 18 pts, 18 PIR

Vasilauskas: 13 pts, 14 PIR

Velicka: 10 pts (2/16 shooting)

Five takeaways:

1) Raz Adam’s show is the best Adam show in the country (at least this week).

No, I haven’t been to an Omer Adam concert. But yes, I would like to go. But for now, Raz Adam has been on fire.

Adam's stats vs Lithuania. (Photo credit: Oded Karni, Israel Basketball Assosciation)

Coach Ariel Beit-Halahmi on which Adam is better:

2) Israel’s bench picked up the starters when they needed it most.

Israel’s bench scored 49 points on the night, having three players score 10 plus.

3) The rebounding game was phenominal.

Israel out rebounded Lithuania 46-42, but in reality, it doesn’t tell the whole story as the Israelis had timely rebound, time, and time again.

4) The crowd has had a huge effect on the team’s success.

The crowd’s turnout and roaring has led Israel all the way to the semifinals. The players feed off their energy. It is also the first time in Israel’s U20 history that they have made it to the Final Four in three consecutive years.

5) Lithuania has sharp shooters.

Velicka, Kozys, and Uleckas are going to have an impact wherever they play.

Key stats:

Rebounds: ISR 46 LIT 42

Turnovers: ISR 10 LIT 21

Steals: ISR 15 LIT 6

Blocks: ISR 4 LIT 1

Points off turnovers: ISR 22 LIT 9

Fast break points: ISR 34 LIT 26

Threes made: ISR 10/27 LIT 12/27

Raz Adam looks ahead to France: