It will be a bittersweet Christmas in Sassari. The group finally became a team, but the bad start had jeopardized the Champions League and made the path towards access to the Final 8 of the Italian Cup an uphill battle .
The arrival of the full Stephens and the return of the play-guard Dowe have given compactness. Stephens' impact is in the numbers: 5 wins in eight matches between Serie A and the European Cup . Before the balance was 3 successes in eleven races, including the Italian Super Cup.
Mind you, between his predecessor Onuakue and Stephens there are two levels of difference in terms of talent and physique. But in team sports chemistry counts above all and with the former big man launched by Cagliari in A2 the defense has clearly improved and Stephens, even with his limitations, is one who continues to do what his teammates need. And in any case , in the Champions League he has always achieved double figures: 13 points and 9 rebounds on average .
Dowe 's contribution to the team's economy was also positive. Suffice it to say that in the victories against Naples and Malaga coach Bucchi had to do without Gentile. The American Dowe can play the double role for which he was hired in the summer: the change of point guard Robinson but also the use in tandem with Robinson which is effective because both know how to attack the rim.