(rodhig) Last season, the structure of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s backcourt was fairly easy to figure out. Once Jordan Farmar (File) returned to the NBA, Keith Langford (File) became the primary ball-handler, usually in the context of isolation plays. Demond Mallet (File) would spread the floor with his shooting. Yogev Ohayon (File) would take advantage of the driving lanes that opened up when defenses collapsed on Langford, while also taking care of the ball and helping out on the boards. Theo Papaloukas would look on from the bench.

This arrangement worked pretty well for Maccabi’s offense. Their ball movement left a lot to be desired, but the spacing was good enough to either support isos and post ups or produce good looks for their shooters – the perennial Israeli champs took very few threes during the season, but if Devin Smith (File) had been a more consistent shooter, that second option would look much better than the numbers indicate. This is how David Blatt coached his team into an above average offensive rating (albeit lower than the 2010-11 campaign), including very productive games against such elite defensive teams as Panathinaikos and Milano. And this is why, judging from their latest backcourt addition, Maccabi seem determined to stay the course in their upcoming Euroleague campaign.

Ricky Hickman (File) should have no trouble finding his place in Blatt’s offensive sets. During his two years in Italy, first at the LegaDue with Casale Monferrato and last season with Scavolini Siviglia Pesaro at the Serie A, the American guard connected on approximately 40% of his threes. That’s pretty impressive considering the volume of shots he put up (4.7 attempts per 28 minutes at Pisaro). And if Maccabi assign him to a more prominent role compared to Mallet, Hickman has proven that he can bring much more than just accurate perimeter shooting:

When it comes to shot selection, the new Maccabi guard is a model of efficiency. At Pesaro he would combine spot-up threes (usually off Daniel Hackett’s penetration) with a bunch of shots at the rim. Hickman knows how to take advantage of ball screens in order to explode to the basket; can be quite elusive when changing directions; uses both hands to get his shot off; and his solid build allows him to play through contract. On the other hand, his overall aggressiveness and impressive shooting percentage came at a price – namely a bunch of turnovers and very few assists.

Hickman could very well turn out to be an upgrade over Ohayon – who apparently just signed a deal with Lokomotiv Kuban – as far as scoring and making plays from the weakside are concerned. These skills, along with his shooting, should help him coexist with Keith Langford. But neither is a pure Euroleague point guard. It is safe to assume that Hickman’s turnover numbers will drop next season. Pesaro relied too much on his drives. In Maccabi he will likely have less responsibilities and more room to operate. However, it is quite doubtful that he will be able to run the offense with Ohayon’s steady hand. The above video raises some red flags. He tends to pick up his dribble too soon and leave his feet too early, without a clear idea of what he wants to do; takes unnecessary risks on some of his passes; and is not always in tune with the movement of the roll man in the two man game.

His performance in pick and rolls is perhaps the biggest cause for concern, in light of the changes in Maccabi’s front line. Last season, the vast majority of Giorgi Shermadini’s (File) 53 made field goals in 16 Euroleague games were assisted by his Cantu teammates. It should be noted that the Italian team led the league in assisted field goals. This means that differences in coaching style might be more significant than a player’s individual tendencies. In any case, neither Langford nor Hickman are proven facilitators (even though the former worked pretty well with Richard Hendrix) while Shermadini’s undeniable progress does not include a refined post game just yet.

Then there’s the issue of perimeter defense. Ohayon emerged as Maccabi’s top perimeter defender last season. Can Hickman replace him? Well, he definitely has the physical tools. He is strong enough to go over the screen and prevent physical guards like Omar Cook (File) from outmuscling him when they drive to the basket. His quick hands and sense of timing allow him to get a lot of deflections, steals and blocks. All that’s missing is solid footwork and keeping track of his man when he defends off the ball.

Hickman’s performance with his new club will largely depend on his specific role. As Acie Law taught us last season, context matters. And there should be no doubt that a player who made it to Maccabi Tel Aviv at 27, after starting from the bottom of the European basketball ladder, will work hard. On the other hand, there are certain limitations to his game. Which is why Maccabi won’t be able to reproduce the backcourt chemistry from last season without a proper replacement for Ohayon. But if they do find him (easier said than done), their offensive production from the perimeter could actually increase.

Aaron Jackson’s (File) addition to CSKA Moscow is indicative of a different approach. This is not merely another extravagant move by a rich club. The Russian champs were an absolute joy to watch last season. They could also turn into an erratic, volatile team – not very often, but at quite inopportune times. The guard trio of Milos Teodosic (File), Aleksey Shved (File) and Jamont Gordon (File) were at center stage in both instances – initiating fast breaks, finding cutters with fancy passes, beating their man off the dribble, but also taking questionable shots, committing more turnovers than they should and losing their cool against full-court press (yes, I’m talking about that game).

Jackson has built a reputation as a prototypical lead guard, who excels at the open court and can get to the basket with ease. At least that’s what his highlights say. But this is not why CSKA brought him over. If you’re reading this blog (and have made it this far without developing a headache) you have almost certainly watched the American guard play more than a few times, so there is no point in an extensive breakdown. At the same time, Ettore Messina will implement significant changes in CSKA’s playbook, making any sort of predictions about Jackson’s role quite risky. But I think that his signing serves as an insurance policy – and not only because Shved could join the NBA.

Setting aside the spectacular drives and the gutsy performances in big games, Jackson emerged last season as a solid floor general. Bilbao’s offense called for many different players to handle and pass the ball, leading to a few games where one of the most explosive guards in Europe was a bit underused. But Jackson adjusted well to life off the ball, making sure that his team’s offense ran as smoothly as possible. And when he had to take on more responsibilities, he did it quite efficiently for a guard who had to make the most out of limited room, due to Bilbao’s lack of a stretch four. This less celebrated aspect of his game means that CSKA will not have to live and die with the mad genius that is Milos Teodosic.

Maccabi Tel Aviv build on last season’s principles, but have to deal with a huge question mark. CSKA look to address one of the few weaknesses on last season’s roster. Right now it is not easy to project whether Hickman or Jackson will be more significant for their teams. But the reasoning behind these signings is pretty clear.

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(sJacas) Elsewhere:

• Milano signed Richard Hendrix (File) to a two-year-deal. Hendrix, one of the top offensive rebounders and shot blockers in last season’s competition, adds some much-needed depth to the four/five rotation.
• Olympiakos signed high-efficiency shooter Kostas Sloukas to a new three-year-deal.
• CSKA Moscow, apart from the insignificant detail of getting Ettore Messina back, have signed Evgeny Voronov to a new two-year-deal.
• Lietuvos Rytas added big man Dejan Ivanov (File) from Montegranaro, one of the top offensive rebounders in Serie A, for one plus one.
• Euroleague returnees ALBA Berlin brought in Zach Morley (File), who can play both forward spots but should see the majority of playing time on the four, and Quakenbrück’s Nathan Peavy (File), another four. They also signed veteran playmaker Vule Avdalovic (File) to add quality to the one/two rotation. The club had already re-signed Heiko Schaffartzik (File) until 2014 earlier this month.
• Brose Baskets acquired center Maik Zirbes (File), a Tibor Pleiß (File) replacement, until 2015. Zirbes’ highest similarity score, in a system comparing players from fifteen different leagues, is the Utah Jazz’s Enes Kanter. His biggest strength, unsurprisingly, is offensive rebounding.