New Jersey (North): Istanbul (D2)

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Power Ranking By Week
WEEK RECORD RANK COMMENTS
Week 8 0-8 13
Istanbul nearly stole one from Jerusalem in a 54–51 loss, and that kind of push earns them a small climb even without the win. Muhanad Deeb helped keep the group organized and attached deep into the game, while Muhammad Assaf gave them important fight on both ends. Nick Fajvan struggled with his shot, but his physicality still mattered — he battled through contact, helped make the paint uncomfortable, and kept Jerusalem from fully relaxing in the second half. The record is still winless, but this was not empty effort. Istanbul showed real progress, and the next step is turning that fight into cleaner late-game possessions, stronger closing execution, and the kind of 40-minute structure that finally gets them over the line.
Week 7 0-7 14
Istanbul dropped a winnable-feeling game to Damascus, 64–56, and the second half was the separator. Muhammad Assaf kept competing, while Nick Fajvan continued to bring physicality, offense, and glass work. But after a strong 38-point first half, the offense slowed to 18 after the break, and that left too much pressure on every defensive possession. Istanbul’s effort is still there in pieces; the next step is sustaining structure after halftime and turning fight into a full-game identity.
Week 6 0-6 14
Istanbul scored 73 against Lahore, which is a real positive, but giving up 95 made it impossible to turn offense into pressure. Playing without most of their roster, Nick Fajvan continued to provide scoring, glass work, and physicality, while Khaled Musbeh had stretches where the ball moved with purpose. The problem was the defensive leakage: transition runs, late rotations, and too many clean looks allowed Lahore to get comfortable early. Istanbul’s path forward is still about availability and detail — get the full group back, compete for 40 minutes, finish possessions, and make opponents earn the easy ones.
Week 5 0-5 14

 

Istanbul ran into Amman’s avalanche and took a 111–67 loss, but there were still individual positives inside a tough night. Sube Deeb kept battling, Muhanad Deeb gave them stretches of organization before getting hurt, and Nick Fajvan had a monster game that showed he can still impact the glass and compete through contact. Tamer Assaf and Muhammad Assaf remain important pieces, but Istanbul simply needs the full group available — against a team like Amman, playing short-handed turns every missed rotation and every transition leak into a run. The fix is urgent but clear: better availability, stronger transition defense, cleaner possessions, and a full 40 minutes of resistance instead of letting elite teams build the kind of runway Amman feasted on.<
Week 4 0-4 13

61–74 vs. Islamabad, and while it’s another loss, the fight level was better than the record. Muhanad Deeb kept them competing, Nick Fajvan battled on the glass, and Khaled Musbeh / Muhammad Assaf had stretches where the offense looked more organized. They still give up too many “easy” runs — but the growth is showing in pockets.
Week 3 0-3 14

Rough night: 72–98 vs. Beirut, and the defensive cracks showed early. Sube Deeb kept competing, and Nick Fajvan was a bright spot with a strong performance, but the transition leaks and breakdowns piled up too fast. Khaled Musbeh and Muhammad Assaf have to help settle late-game execution, and the whole group has to finish possessions with rebounds. The upside is real — but the defensive details have to tighten immediately.
Week 2 0-2 13

Istanbul ran into another tough matchup and fell to Mombasa (58–85). Captain Sube Deeb has them playing hard, but it’s the details: finishing possessions (Nick Fajvan & Tamer Assaf), limiting run-outs, and executing late (Khaled Musbeh + Muhammad Assaf + Muhanad Deeb). At 0–2, they need a cleaner brand of basketball, quickly.
Week 1 0-1 13
 
Istanbul fell to Gaza (41–58), but the energy is real — they play with edge. Captain Sube Deep has them competing, and the path forward is clear: finish possessions (rebounding from Nick Fajvan & Tamer Assaf) and execute late (Khaled Musbeh + Muhammad Assaf + Muhanad Deeb). Until that settles, the “grown-up stuff” will keep costing them games.
Preseason 0-0 13
A young, exciting up-and-coming team that plays with edge and intensity—and won’t be intimidated by anyone. Their path up the rankings depends on finishing possessions: rebounding from Tamer Assaf and late-game execution from Khaled Musbeh and Muhammad Assaf will be the difference between close losses and wins.