Hapoel Tel Aviv Seeks Integration of Injured Star Tamir Blatt

Hapoel Tel Aviv is set to return to the court on Saturday evening to face Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Winner Cup quarterfinals, held in Hadera. The team, which returned late Friday from a loss to Bayern Munich, held a final practice session where players with significant minutes against Bayern did not participate extensively and are unlikely to play.

The club is looking to break a two-game losing streak, having lost in the Super Cup to Maccabi Tel Aviv and in their EuroLeague opener. A key focus for the team is the integration of Tamir Blatt, who has been sidelined for a month with an injury sustained during his time with the Israeli national team. Blatt, signed for three seasons, has not yet trained with the team since his injury.

Despite initial plans to assess Blatt's future with the team after his recovery, the club's shaky start to the season has led to increased internal and external calls to keep him involved. "Tamir Blatt is a legitimate EuroLeague point guard with good EuroLeague experience from recent years," stated a club source. "It's not for nothing they signed him here for several years. We need to find a way for Tamir to be part of the team and not just in the squad."

Meanwhile, Amir Coffey, who missed the Bayern game due to a calf injury, is expected to miss the upcoming double EuroLeague week, with hopes for his return in the coming weeks.