Avi Segal || Don't be so sure
Three years after winning its last state cup, Hapoel Jerusalem storms this week for the possibility of winning it for the seventh time in its history.
In order to reach the finals, she has to overcome Hapoel Haifa by half, in a game in which she is the clear favorite.
All the starting data are in favor of Aleksandar Džikić's team: they play in their home stadium, they have a professional advantage, a depth advantage, they have good momentum, the opponent has a missing team and is in a bad season.
To all this we have to add the tradition, as mentioned six trophies in the closet.
The last two victories in the European framework bring Jerusalem in momentum for the important week.
The team is very connected, the hierarchy is clear and the playing ability is good.
True, it's not a normal league game, but playing in your own hall, when in the stands you are expected to have clear superiority, is a huge advantage.
Hapoel Jerusalem is celebrating.
Wants a trophy after 3 years, photo: Danny Maron
With the opponent, the momentum is completely reversed, professionally and mentally.
On top of that, as mentioned, Haifa's squad is missing, while the broader one of Jerusalem received an addition with the debut of T.J. Klein.
This is also the main key: the best defensive team in the league will enjoy a deep rotation, which will allow fresh fives to be put on the field at any given moment, with a focus on closing Anthony Hickey, who, beyond his dominance and speed, also has no replacement in Haifa.
And where, after all, lies the possibility of surprise?
A game between a clear favorite and a classic underdog is an introduction to excessive confidence.
The home court can be stressful if things don't go well, and also: a new player for Haifa, Justin Tillman, may cause a disruption in the tactical preparation.
By and large, it seems that only Jerusalem can prevent itself from advancing to the final on Thursday.
Tomer Givati || to bridge the cracks of hegemony
As with any local team, Maccabi Tel Aviv comes to the cup week as the favorite to win the title, even though its hegemony in this enterprise has been cracked - only once in the last five years has the trophy made its way to the yellow title cabinet.
Lorenzo Brown at the autograph session.
Will he be fit for tonight?, Photo: Maccabi Tel Aviv
Although the main story that occupied the team throughout the last month, and in particular in the preparations for the game against Nes Ziona City, is the fitness level of Lorenzo Brown, the star of the team who is suffering from a sprained ankle - but above all, Oded Ketch must spur on his trainees and make them understand the nature and importance of the task.
Throughout the season, the yellows stumbled three times in the local framework.
This is quite a lot, and stems from the lack of a sense of urgency in the games in Israel, in contrast to the Euroleague games, where the hall is crowded and pushing, and the desire to prove against senior teams is very strong.
catch
The key to victory, photo: EPA
Catch's key man, as in every game over the last month, is Wade Baldwin.
The guard comes into the contest after breaking his career high with 38 in a loss to Red Star Belgrade last week.
His task, along with the entire Maccabi defense, will be to stop the opponent star Di.
Jay Cooper, the man who runs the show on the floor for Elad Hassin and runs the Orange machine.
If the Tel Avivites manage to narrow his steps, they will thereby turn off the engine of Nes Ziona, and hence the chances of victory are high and the path to another final will be shortened.
Ido Ashad || The appetite to make history
The Hapoel Haifa club is a hungry club, and in its third year in the Premier League, after twenty years of playing in the lower leagues, the association feels ripe for the first title in its history.
Just last week the European campaign ended, which started with great fanfare and ended with a slight sense of failure, but gave a lot of confidence in the ability.
Now you can concentrate on the local league, and especially on the cup, two wins away from a coveted title.
Haifa is careful to maintain the framework of the four foreigners, but suffered from bad luck in the division, with the release of Jaylen Jones who did not fulfill the promise, and the injury of Devonte Epson.
The "secret" weapon that was parachuted last week over the Carmel and will play in his renewed debut today, will be Justin Tillman, a tremendous scorer who lives in color and two years ago left Hapoel Tel Aviv in the league with an average of 20 points and 9 rebounds. In a game against the front line of Jerusalem, and especially against the talented Zack Hankins, Tillman can be the tiebreaker.
Hickey.
The Haifa key,
Hapoel Haifa is managed and coached excellently, and Sharon Drucker makes almost maximum use of the talent he has.
The team has already proven to itself that it is capable of winning away from home in decisive games, such as in the quarter-finals in Holon, and the two overtime games by Eliyahu also gives it confidence that it can surprise in the arena.
Her problem is that beyond the home advantage, Jerusalem is also a very trained team with an experienced and smart coach.
It is possible that Haifa will try to raise the tempo and play more wildly against the orderly game of Jerusalem, and in the end will depend on the number of threes that Amit Simhon, Kadim Allen and Anthony Hickey will be able to produce.
In one game anything can happen.
And my prediction: Haifa in the final.
Tomer Givati || through the defense to the title
Ironi Nes Ziona reaches the semi-finals of the State Cup with mixed feelings.
The young and exciting team of Elad Hasin started the season with a storm and was a surprise, but in the last few weeks something cracked in the chemistry of the team from the heart of the colony and the losses began to accumulate - they had six of them in the last seven rounds in the league.
The Oranges come to the match as a clear underdog, and therefore they only have something to gain - the pressure will be placed entirely on their opponent.
Ness Ziona proved this year that the total talent in the team is very high and that the potential for success exists, thanks to a squad that consists of five dominant foreigners and three senior Israelis who contribute quite a bit.
DJ Cooper.
Standing above all, photo: Danny Maron
Of course DJ Cooper stands above all of them, the man who broke the record for assists for an entire season in the Winner League already during the month of February, he is the key man for the Oranges in every game this season, and even in the semi-finals of the cup it will not be different.
The veteran coordinator has a lot of experience in big situations, and in order to make history, his team will need another magical performance from him, something he has already proven he can do several times.
The key to surprise: defense.
On the face of it, this sounds simple and basic, but for Hossein and his apprentices, guarding can make the big difference between being a fun team that plays beautiful and happy basketball, and one that can also threaten titles.
DJ Cooper.
Soon in the national team?, Photo: Liron Moldovan
Throughout the year there is a built-in problem in the Oranges' defensive game, much due to their offensive style of play that dictates a fast pace.
They must stop the yellow machine on a low score, and not get into a gunfight, which likely won't leave it a chance.
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