Maccabi Tel Aviv will take the court Thursday at 8:50 p.m. at Menora Mivtachim Arena for Game 2 of the playoff final, leading the series 1-0 after a 96-75 win in the opener. About 1,000 Maccabi supporters are expected in Gate 11 to create a home atmosphere.
Jimi Clark and Oshae Brissett, both of whom were hurt during Game 1, took part in Wednesday's final practice and are expected to be available. Unless there is a last-minute surprise, Maccabi will use the same roster that beat Hapoel on Tuesday. Lonnie Walker is expected to miss a fifth straight game.
Ahead of the matchup, guard Iffe Lundberg said the team expects the opponent to make adjustments and that Maccabi must stay focused on its own game plan. “At the end of the day what we need to do is focus on what we do, our game plan and how we execute it, especially the defensive intensity,” he said, adding that if they do that, “we have a good chance to have another good game.”
Lundberg said the team can improve its cohesion and clarity, but that Game 1 was generally very good. He noted a dip in the third quarter, saying basketball is a game of runs, and said Maccabi’s aggression on the boards and its size and athleticism were key. He also said coach stressed ball movement and unselfish play: “Nobody plays selfish basketball, and that is why we play like this. In order to be successful in the next games, we need to keep playing unselfish basketball.”
