After failing in its three key games so far this season, and with weights of pressure on its shoulders, Katsch's team will host Limoges tonight (Wednesday, 21:00) for a game on the European season
Thomas and Kramer.
Game season
Photography:
Oded Karni
Hapoel Jerusalem had three important milestones at the beginning of the season.
Last season's Final 8 in the Champions League held in Athens, the Winner's Cup semi - final, and the opening game of the new European season against Turk Telecom Ankara, a victory of which could have given it the home title later on.
We are only at the beginning of the season but at all these intersections Jerusalem has failed.
She has not won yet when it really mattered.
They still have a lot left to play for this season - but the opening part of the score - does not pass.
Jerusalem no matter how you turn it around has undergone the opening of a season of falls in key games.
If we look at the side of assumptions then circumstances certainly were.
A late start to training, the injury of Jacoben Brown, the need to be at the top early in the season.
With this record in the important games, Jerusalem is going to another important game tonight - against Limoges (Wednesday, 21:00).
Some will step up and say it's a game about the European season.
The reason is also related to the corona period.
Due to the special situation in the Champions Cup, it was decided that the early houses will be 4 teams and not 8. This is to make the game schedule more profitable.
A house of 4 teams - 6 games - 2 costs means that every game is super important and there is almost no room for repairs.
Therefore, after the loss in Ankara, a home loss tonight to Limoges will greatly reduce the chances of Jerusalem advancing to the next stage, and we know how important Jerusalem is to this enterprise.
Suddenly already in the second round of the season a game on the whole box office.
Jerusalem arrives at this important game in sub-optimal conditions.
First of all a weight of pressure on the shoulders.
Second: The vehicle is missing.
Jacoben Brown, who has been missing since the start of the season, was joined by Malcolm Hill, who is injured and will be out for a few more weeks.
The Jerusalem built on the Brown-Hill-Thomas axis will be without two sides of the triangle and in addition its not-so-long rotation will be shortened anyway.
Jerusalem is now in a period of transition - until Jacoben Brown returns, until a replacement for Hill arrives and perhaps further reinforcement.
The goal is to get through this period with a minimum of damage.
Now in a non-optimal situation and with the fear that another degree may escape, Jerusalem is rising for this game.
Calmness and peace of mind, defense (not seeing the video of the game in Ankara) plus the transcendence of whoever is (Tamir Blatt - key) should bring the first victory of the season in an open game.
Limoges, a big name from the past, is today a less good team than Jerusalem, even if Jerusalem is missing.
In short this is the game to really start the season.