Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul have clearly been the best team in the EuroLeague this season.
Not only do they boast the best record as the defending champions, but their style of play remains remarkably dominant within the current EuroLeague environment and competition format.
They are consistent on both ends of the floor, powering a 9-game winning streak that no other team has been able to match.
What is particularly interesting, however, is the way they play defensively. Some of the things they are doing this season, bolstered by key roster additions, have been genuinely impressive.
In certain aspects, you can even draw parallels with elite defensive systems at the NBA level.
Fenerbahce's switch defense foundation and comparison to OKC Thunder
Defensively, the foundation of Fenerbahce's system is switch defense.
However, the true standouts are their switching intensity, precise rotations, help-side rim protection, and overall defensive mobility.
They are noticeably more athletic than most EuroLeague teams, and their rotations arrive incredibly quickly.
At any moment, they can shift from switching into recovery defense and still manage to cover almost everything on the floor. In those situations, they operate in perfect synchronization.
At times, they even resemble a EuroLeague version of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder.
Thunder
Thunder
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
They overwhelm opponents with defensive pressure and often break games open by stifling their opponents' offensive options.
When they switch, what is specific to them is their discipline against the typical counters to switch defenses commonly used in the EuroLeague.
Actions like ghost screens, attacking mismatches in isolation or the low post, and various set plays are far less effective against them.
Fenerbahce are so disciplined that these tactics rarely succeed, a primary factor behind their league-leading defensive metrics.
Statistical dominance
That is why they currently have the league's best defensive rating at 108.8. They are the only team in the EuroLeague with a defensive rating below 110.
The next best team is above 112, specifically around 112.8, which shows just how significant the gap is.
If we go deeper into advanced metrics and specific defensive segments, they are also outstanding at defending the perimeter and the three-point line.
Opponents shoot only 31.2% from beyond the arc against Fenerbahce, which is the best defensive mark in the EuroLeague.
Fener
Fener
Credit Tolga Adanali/EuroLeague via Getty Images
Looking at opponent two-point field goals, Fenerbahce also lead the league by limiting opponents to just 50.1% shooting on twos, again the best figure in the competition.
On a basic level, in terms of points allowed, Fenerbahce allow just 78.9 points per game — the only team in the league under 80.
This is extremely difficult in the modern EuroLeague, especially this season, where the pace has increased significantly.
With faster play and more possessions, consistently holding opponents under 80 points has become increasingly difficult.
But Fenerbahce, through precise roster building and intense defensive execution, have managed this feat remarkably.
Fenerbahce's roster versatility
What is interesting about Fenerbahce's roster is the number of powerful wing players they have. They also have very good defenders at the guard positions, primarily Devon Hall and Wade Baldwin.
Baldwin is a strong athlete and a good defender. Then, on the wing, you have players like Bonzie Colson who further bolster the rotation. Most of the squad can cover multiple positions, including the guard spot where Talen Horton-Tucker fits that physical, athletic profile.
If we focus on the center position, which has mostly been covered by Nicolo Melli, who is excellent in switch situations.
Outside of him, Khem Birch is a solid switch defender, while Armando Bacot is not an ideal defender in switch situations.
Recently, they also brought in Chris Silva, who has strong potential as a switch defender, and if Sarunas Jasikevicius can improve his focus and decision-making, he could become very effective in that role.
Silva
Silva
Credit IMAGO/Seskim Photo TR - Scanpix
But if we look at the sample of games played so far this season, Fenerbahce have not really had dominant switch defenders at the five.
Outside of Melli, that position is relatively thin for a team relying so heavily on switching.
Nevertheless, they remain the most dominant defense in the competition because success does not rely purely on an elite switch center.
While one-on-one responsibility is vital, their collective strength across all positions means they don't require specialists like Mathias Lessort or Joel Bolomboy to anchor the perimeter.
Fenerbahce instead compensate for the lack of a traditional anchor through overall roster versatility.
In switching situations, they use peel switches, bring quick next-man help, on the perimeter, and recover very quickly.
Simply put, when you build a roster with ten players who can defend multiple positions, who are physically strong, athletic, and highly intelligent, and when those players are following the instructions of one of the best coaches in Europe and in world basketball, Sarunas Jasikevicius, the result is a highly cohesive and organized defense.
In such a system, individual talent remains important, but the real advantage lies in their structural integrity and collective effort.
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Vukašin Nedeljković
Vukašin played basketball competitively in his youth, and now contributes to Synergy Sports Technology and Sportradar regarding basketball analysis. He also has experience working as a journalist in Serbia and is passionate about writing basketball articles mainly focused on basketball X's and O's.
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