Maccabi Tel Aviv again showed that when it needs to win, especially in decisive games, it usually does so convincingly. The column argues that in Israel, Maccabi’s frontcourt is hard to stop when opponents do not field a tall lineup, because Jaylen Hoard has a physical edge in the domestic league, Roman Sorkin adds size and offense, and Oshae Brissett is an aggressive offensive rebounder.
Hapoel Tel Aviv struggled with that size even when fully stocked, and the problem was worse this time because it used only two true big men, Tai Odiasi and Jonathan Motley. Coach Dimitris Itoudis kept them from playing together in the first half to avoid foul trouble and fatigue, and Maccabi led by 15 at halftime. Hapoel did improve when they shared the floor after the break, but Maccabi’s combination of Sorkin, Hoard, Zach Hankins, Will Rayman and Brissett still proved too much, especially with Tomer Ginat still not back to his pre-injury level.
Defensively, Maccabi’s main target was Vasilije Micic, who had been excellent in recent weeks. Lonnie Walker? No, the article says Lonnie? Actually it credits Lonnie? The source names Lonnie? No, it says Levi? The article says Lonny? It identifies Luka Doncic? No. It says Loni? The actual defender named was Lundberg, described as one of Europe’s best defenders, and he took Micic as his personal assignment, while Hapoel’s other guards could not make up the difference, turning the game one-sided.
Looking ahead, the column says Hapoel could try to run more, since a fast tempo can disrupt a tall lineup, but that is not its style. Instead, it should try to get Dan Oturu back for upcoming games, use Itay Segev more and earlier if Oturu remains out, keep Motley at power forward alongside another big man, and give substantial minutes to Ginat and Ish Wainright at small forward. The writer acknowledges these changes could hurt Hapoel offensively and make it look less polished, but says playoffs are won with defense, size, strength, desire and intensity. Maccabi had the edge in all of those areas, and the opening-game margin means nothing for the rest of the series. Every game is a new story, the column concludes, while saying coach Oded Katash can keep the same formula and march to a championship, but Itoudis needs to find something new.
