Israeli basketball is growing tremendously, and the cancellation of the Final Four will only speed up the process • Young people will continue to set the tone, so keep an eye on Michael Brisker • and why it is important that more and more Israelis go overseas • Tomer Ginat is optimistic in Paris
Michael Brisker.
Will be one of the best Israelis in the league
Photography:
Maor Alexelsi
1.
Israeli basketball has been growing in recent years, and the place that expresses it best is the Premier League, the league that every child who plays basketball dreams of reaching.
In the last three or four years, we have seen a lot of players break out and give great seasons, and in fact constitute the generational change in the league and in the Israeli national team.
We have talented players who know how to play basketball, and it's fun to watch them play.
The league is on a significant strengthening trend, and I think next season will be another step in this process of progress.
We have a lot of good foreigners who came to Israel because of the circumstances, and already in the games of the Balkans you can see that there are not many gaps between the teams.
So I believe it will be a very good season with a lot of close games.
Keep in mind that this year we are also returning to the series at all stages of the playoffs, and I am sure it will give another boost and add interest and action in the crucial stages.
Just that all the players get to them healthy.
I personally miss being in the country and being a part of it, so I'm sure that here in France I will also follow the games closely.
2.
One of the players I'm most looking forward to seeing next season is Michael Brisker.
From the first second I saw him at Hapoel Tel Aviv I said he has something special. I do not think we have many players with a level of talent like his. I believe this season we will continue to see the progress he made at Maccabi Haifa last season, and there is no reason why he will not be one The good Israelis in the league.
I am also very interested to see the combination of Bar Timor and Joaquin Schuchman. I am of course not objective, but I think that with their character and ability they can bring Hapoel Tel Aviv to good places.
3.
A few words about the differences between what I have experienced since I came here, to the French league, and what we know from the league in Israel.
First of all, the style of play is different.
The league here is very athletic and physical and the pace is very fast, much faster than in Israel.
In the country, the league is smarter and the games and teams are much more tactical, but here in every position you can feel the physical strengths, even with the guards.
You can often see players from the back line walking with their backs to the basket and running the game from there or generating points.
I have never experienced anything like this, and I still make adjustments.
In general, the departure of Israeli players to Europe is an important and welcome thing, and anyone who has the opportunity to go to a good and orderly team should consider this very positively.
We have a lot of talented players who can play in the top leagues in Europe, and I expect this trend to continue.
This will do good for the Israeli player, and of course for the team as well.
In my opinion, the fact that more and more players are going to play abroad indicates the strengthening of the league. The fact that the level in the Premier League is better and that better foreigners come than before makes all the players push themselves, raise their level and get better.
And
finally a few words about the difficult situation we are in, since the outbreak of the corona plague.
Unfortunately, this complicating virus has become part of his daily routine and has no intention of disappearing from here any time soon, so one needs to know how to conduct oneself and live by it.
Sport is a necessary and vital thing for all of us, and there are many people for whom sitting at home and watching sports or watching their favorite team on screen does them good for the soul.
Yes, there will be players who will be infected with the virus and sometimes there will also be games that will be rejected, but everyone needs to bite their lip, accept this reality, and do everything possible to keep playing.
Until we return to normal life.
Brought to print: Yaakov Meir