Israeli Basketball Teams Face Varied EuroLeague Fates

The new EuroLeague season tips off on Thursday, featuring two Israeli teams, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv, for the second consecutive year. Ahead of the opening games, analysts have outlined optimistic, realistic, and pessimistic scenarios for both clubs' European campaigns.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's optimistic outlook includes the swift return of home games to Israel within weeks, following an upcoming visit by EuroLeague CEO Dejan Bodiroga. Professionally, the team, led by coach Oded Katash, is expected to build on last season's success, with key players like Yiftach Mader and Keeton Wallace showing significant improvement. Bonzie Colson is anticipated to perform at a high level, and the frontcourt is projected to be among the league's best. This scenario predicts Maccabi finishing between 5th and 8th place, securing a playoff spot.

The realistic scenario for Maccabi sees home games returning later in the season, after the team has already forfeited some home-court advantages. While Mader and Colson are expected to perform well, Wallace might struggle to adapt, and new signing Daniel Theis may not live up to expectations. Roman Sorkin is expected to remain the primary center. This projection places Maccabi fighting for a play-in spot, finishing between 9th and 12th.

In the pessimistic view for Maccabi, early-season losses to weaker opponents are expected, with a return to Israel potentially not happening until March. The new signings, including Mader, Wallace, and Theis, are seen as disappointing, with only Colson providing an upgrade. The team's defense is expected to remain a significant weakness, leading to a finish between 13th and 16th, missing the playoffs.

For Hapoel Tel Aviv, the return of home games to Israel is less critical in the optimistic scenario, though it is still expected to happen relatively quickly. The team is predicted to start the season strongly, filling the arena and improving its relationship with fans. Key players like Elijah Bryant and Dan O'Toole are expected to be top EuroLeague performers, with Vasilije Micić having a successful season. This scenario projects Hapoel finishing between 2nd and 4th, reaching the Final Four.

The realistic scenario for Hapoel suggests a mid-season return to Israel that won't significantly impact home game success due to the strong roster. Bryant and O'Toole remain top performers, but Micić's season might be similar to the last, and the point guard position could become vulnerable after Chris Jones's departure. Zach LeDay is expected to be a significant upgrade at power forward. Hapoel is predicted to have a season similar to the last, competing for a top-4 spot but ultimately being eliminated in the playoffs, finishing 5th to 7th.

The pessimistic outlook for Hapoel begins with a poor start following a loss in the Super Cup, compounded by a delayed return to Israel or a negative reception from fans upon return. Bryant and O'Toole's performance levels might slightly decrease relative to the league, and Micić could see a further decline. No new signings are expected to significantly upgrade the team. Coach Dimitris Itoudis might be dismissed early in the season, with the team missing the top six but securing a play-in spot, ultimately failing to reach the playoffs and finishing 8th to 11th.