A decisive loss against Zalgiris Kaunas, a heart-breaking defeat against FC Bayern Munich, and a momentous beating from AX Armani Exchange Milan means that Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul have only won 1 match of their last 7, and are tied for the 15th place in the Euroleague standings.
Losing is not something that Turkish fans are accustomed to, especially after experiencing a yearly title run with Zeljko Obradovic at the helm. Igor Kokoshkov, and now Sasa Djordjevic, have brought new winds to Istanbul, but Fener's long-standing castle is starting to crumble under the immense pressure that the club faces.
Basketnews' Augustas Suliauskas offers a perspective on the Turkish giant's collapse in late-game situations. Are they just unlucky, or are the late-game mishaps part of a bigger issue?
Fenerbahce's first loss of the season came in Greece against Panathinaikos OPAP Athens. An absolutely crazy ending caused the Turkish powerhouse to capitulate in a game that they felt they should have won. Boneheaded decisions from Jan Vesely, Marko Guduric, and Devin Booker propelled Pao to inch out the game with 9 straight free throws.
Lackluster defensive decisions and ill-advised fouls marked Fener's defeat against Real Madrid. Another unsportsmanlike foul, this time by Melih Mahmutoglu, reckless possessions on both ends followed missed shots gave Real the win in another close game.
Nikola Mirotic's miraculous shot helped FC Barcelona edge Fenerbahce, but Lady Luck was not the only one to blame after yet another loss. One more unsportsmanlike foul by Vesely and a dim-witted lose-ball decision by Pierria Henry inspired the Spanish club's takeover of the match.
Lack of offensive creativity and discipline highlighted Fener's defeat against Olympiacos Piraeus. This time, the Turkish wall was steady, but Kostas Sloukas's masterful jump shot nailed the final nail in the coffin.
Fenerbahce's late-game collapses followed by heart-breaking losses against the neighbors in the Euroleague standings mark a new beginning for the Turkish powerhouse. Djordjevic's squad has lost some very close matches, but their issues seem to be much larger than pure luck.
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FC Bayern Munich
Fenerbahce Istanbul
Zalgiris Kaunas
Anadolu Efes Istanbul
