Cautious optimism in Maccabi Tel Aviv: "The spark that will move everything anew" | Israel Today

1. Two and a half weeks have passed since the last game of Maccabi Tel Aviv and the team did not know how the players would react to the long break that was forced on them.

At least yesterday (Thursday) the reaction was positive with one of the Yellows' best games of the season ending in 69:84 over Olympiacos and interrupting the long streak of losses in the Euroleague.

Yannis Sapropoulos and his team used the lengthy time to hold an impromptu training camp where they worked with the players on basic things that had not been successful recently, sharpened emphases and also tried to get some players back who had lost confidence and suffered from a bad period.

"We're back to playing the way I want us to play," the Greek coach said with satisfaction.

"In my four years at Maccabi, it's the best game in terms of committing smart offenses. See that the players were mentally fresh to do the right things."

Ante thanks the judge.

The outstanding player of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Photo: Alan Shiber

2. Ante Zizic and Keenan Evans won compliments at the end.

"Ante plays very well all season and shows a great presence on both defense and offense, the players understood how to use him well," the team said.

"You have to remember that this is Keenan's first season in the Euroleague and it's not easy. It takes him time to adapt."

Evans himself said: "When we went back to training after the virus we pushed each other to work hard. For me the most important thing in this game was that we did not lose balls. In the losing streak each game we lost 15 balls or more, this time we stopped at 4 and that was key for us. "Especially after the last few games. I hope this is the spark that will propel everything back. We are hungry and the losses made us look in the mirror and understand what is wrong."

Žižić, who was also selected as an outstanding player, added: "We did an amazing job defensively and on offense we scored the shots we had. My friends found me for easy shots, but for me the team effort is the one that won for us. A tough game board awaits us, but most games At home and we will try to do our best. "

Yannis and his actors.

On behalf of the defense, Photo: Alan Schieber

Before the game, some of the team's fans turned around and handed out protest notes to professional manager Nikola Vujicic.

The security guards and ushers collected some of the pages that were distributed, and of course also thanks to the overwhelming result the protest did not rise or gain momentum.

Cameron Taylor in action.

In the meantime he will stay, Photo: Danny Maron

4. Maccabi Tel Aviv are considering loaning Cameron Taylor and some teams have even inquired about the player, but currently the club do not intend to release him due to the crowded game schedule that awaits them in the near future, certainly until they see purchasing player Kyrie Thomas fully recovered from the injury he suffered. .

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