The great joy that was released from Guy Goodes at the end of the 69:79 last night (Sunday) of the Israeli team against Estonia could not be missed.
The coach has been under pressure lately, both due to the difficult situation he found himself in at Maccabi Rishon LeZion and due to the high expectations of the Israeli team.
"Amazing feelings," he says in a hoarse voice - probably from the shouts, probably from the celebrations - in an interview we had late at night at the lEmbitu Hotel.
"My first window on the team with two wins, it's great fun. I told the players in the locker room that I really enjoyed working with them, the professionalism and the commitment.
"These are things that are not seen in any team or any team. All the players and team deserve a big nose. We came to play hard, have fun and we made two important victories that start the campaign on the right foot for us."
Goodes continued: "There is something very special about this team - commitment, a desire to be the best and a great respect for each other. It is something that is not at all obvious. All the teams had intrigues and everyone wanted to show that he was better, even in my time it was, and this team has "A connection that is very special, a connection that has been created over the years and a combination of veterans and young people. Everyone knows their place and compliments their friend. This is what makes this team very special."
Probably Tomer Ginat's injury clouded the joy of victory a bit.
"Definitely. It's jarring and dilutes the win with a bit of sadness. A lot of that win is dedicated to him. He's done a fantastic job, he's been in good shape since the start of the season in France and doing an amazing job there. I wish him a speedy recovery and a quick return to the pitches."
At the beginning of the window you did not lower your expectations and said that the task is to reach the world championships.
"Everywhere I go I want to do my best, that's how I was raised and that's how I see basketball. In every team I want to beat the best rivals. That's what leads me as a coach and that's what I want to do with this team - set a goal and try to reach it." .
You came to the team instead of a coach who was very successful. Did you feel any special pressure to succeed in this window and start on the right foot?
"Anyone who knows me knows that I am not stressed by such things. In 2014, I took the position at Maccabi Tel Aviv after David Blatt, who won the European Championship and all the titles when the stock was the highest possible and I was not stressed about it.
When you get into something you just have to be focused on doing and think less about what is going on.
Goods and Katsch.
Did not shy away from getting into the ex's shoes,
"Oded Katash did an amazing job in the team, but in the union they decided what they decided and we move on. I do not deal with concerns, but try to bring my things and succeed with the players."
You came to this window in a difficult situation for you at Maccabi Rishon Lezion. How did you manage to neutralize the difficulties in the team so that it would not harm your work in the team?
"A difficult question and I will answer it carefully. It was not easy, I had a difficult week. I have experience and I have already gone through some less good situations in my career, so I know how to put things aside when needed. I tried to concentrate as much as possible on the team's task. "Now I go back to the group and see how things go. I do not want to get into such and such provocations and relate to what has been said."
Professionally, what are you going to do to get Maccabi Rishon LeZion out of its difficult situation?
"We need to make changes. The player market is not simple at all, all of Europe is looking for and interested, and now there are also problems bringing foreigners into the country, some foreigners do not want to leave the US because of the situation.
I talk to a lot of coaches in Europe and they are all on the same issue.
You do not want to replace a sock with a sock, just to say you have replaced.
It will not help.
One needs to be mentally strong, breathe and concentrate on the goal and see how one gets the business out of the mud.
We will try to do the best we can and I hope it works out. "
How do you explain what is happening to Noam Dovrat from the start of the season?
"Noam is going through a difficult period since the beginning of the season. It will be a process that he will first have to go through with himself. We try to help him in every way possible, I believe he is strong enough. In the end you need a good game to get back to business. Support and wait for him.
It's a process, and I hope the process will not be too long.
We need him to start winning games. "
Finally, you previously coached Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem, can success with the team bring you back to coach the big teams?
"Anyone who knows me knows that I do not do these calculations. I try to live the situation and the moment. I have not enjoyed it like this since the beginning of the season. You come to training and everyone is 100 percent committed, no one fakes and everything is high. Many times I was the one to stop and calm down. The training is over and people do not want to go to the hotel, but to keep throwing. It's something I really appreciate, because it's for me to be an athlete, it's these guys.
"We have a lot of players like that. Everyone who was on the team, even those who were seen, brought their commitment and contributed to the success in this window. We have a rosy future and with that I deal, less with what it will do for me personally."
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