The difficult season opener for Hapoel Jerusalem continued tonight (Wednesday) with a home loss of 73:68 to Manresa, which complicated it greatly in the struggles for promotion to the next stage of the Champions League.
Oren Amiel's team looked very bad from the opening whistle.
The offensive exercises did not work, the players were insecure and missed even when they reached free throws (18 percent off the arc), the balls escaped from the hands and in the crucial minutes the defense did not work either.
Retin Obasohan and Sean Kilpatrick, who are supposed to be the main players of Jerusalem, connected 3 of 16 from the field and scored 11 points together.
Jaylen Adams tried to save the homeland with 24 points, but played alone and also scored in not high percentages (10 of 22).
Also the tall duo Thon Maker and Anthony Bennett who arrived with loud cheers from the NBA are not hurting.
They, too, scored 11 points together in bad percentages, and didn’t really manage to make it difficult for the opponent’s inside players.
Anthony Bennett.
Another game close to Hapoel Jerusalem, Photo: Berni Ardov
A close game in the arena, Photo: Berni Ardov
Not only does the current group in Jerusalem have no capacity, it also has no character.
The team players from the capital had many opportunities to turn the score around and win in the last minutes, but once the rebound escaped their hands, another time Kaiser Gates missed a free throw from the corner and in the final seconds Adam Ariel failed to take out an outside ball twice.
At the beginning of the season, Jerusalem was happy that the first two games will take place in the arena in front of the home crowd, but now they have two losses and expect four games, three of them away.
The Reds will have to win three games to stay in the picture rising to the playoffs.
Adam Ariel is looking for the basket, Photo: Berni Ardov
Adam Ariel flies to the basket, Photo: Berni Ardov
A close game in the arena, Photo: Berni Ardov
Hapoel Jerusalem players, Photo: Berni Ardov
Hapoel Jerusalem fans, Photo: Berni Ardov