Basketball Corner, Dribble, 5.9/Photo: Walla System!Video Editing: Ziv Steiner
Quite a few criticisms were directed at Maccabi Tel Aviv regarding the signings made this summer, but just before the first official game of the season today (Tuesday, 17:30) in the quarterfinals of the Winner's Cup against Ironi Kiryat Ata, it seems that in Europe there are those who see things differently.
"Maccabi Tel Aviv is one of the teams that had the best summer in the Euroleague," they analyzed yesterday on the Euroleague podcast of the BasketNews website. "Maccabi Tel Aviv's good summer began even before the summer with the signings of Wade Baldwin and Lorenzo Brown to new contracts. They kept most of the roster that got them very close to the Final Four, and overall they did a very good job," Donatas Urbonas said, and his podcast partner Augustas Shuliauskas added: "I liked their little moves. They did a very good job. They retained most of the staff and strengthened the positions where reinforcement was needed, after they understood the weaknesses. Maccabi will be good in the regular season, but it's hard to see apart from Real Madrid who will be in the Final Four."
Last season, one was included in the top five of the season, and the other in the second. And this time? Baldwin & Brown/Danny Maron
The two even included Wade Baldwin and Lorenzo Brown on their early MVP lists. "Lorenzo and Baldwin should definitely be on that list. They are two of the best guards in Europe, and guards usually make the difference." Notably, if Baldwin or Brown live up to expectations and win the individual award, it would be the first time an American player has won Euroleague MVP honors since Anthony Parker in 2006.
Either way, according to Urbonas and Shuliauskas, it is still difficult to determine how the Yellows' season will end. "They will probably have a good regular season, but right now, apart from Real Madrid, it's very hard to pinpoint one team that is the favorite to reach the Final Four," they said.
- More on the subject:
- Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball
