Hapoel Jerusalem Coach Praises Dominant Newcomer Lofton After EuroCup Opener

Hapoel Jerusalem launched their EuroCup campaign with a decisive 94-73 victory over Germany's Rostock on Tuesday evening. Head coach Sasa Obradovic acknowledged the strong win but emphasized that the team is still developing.

"This is a good win for us, but it's still early and we are not at our maximum yet," Obradovic stated. "A win like this is very important for the team's confidence. We need to improve communication in our next game, but it's good to get such a win in the first game."

Obradovic noted that while the team controlled the game, their chemistry and flow are still works in progress. He highlighted defensive lapses in the first half, where Rostock players took easy shots, but praised the team's second-half improvement. "It's important to win even when you're not playing a great game," he added.

Regarding new acquisition Kenny Lofton, Obradovic described him as a "dominant player" and "a joy to watch," while also noting that Lofton needs to adapt to European basketball. "He's the complete package. I'm happy we have him," Obradovic said.

Player Jalen Smith echoed the sentiment of a good start to a long journey and looked ahead to their upcoming game against Maccabi Tel Aviv. "Harper is injured, so I'm here to organize the offense, and as one of the veterans, that's my role. We can't rely on just me, but today was my night. Next time it will be someone else. We are a team," Smith stated.

Lofton expressed his satisfaction with the win, calling it an excellent start for the new team. "I came here to help win. I feel great, I know what I bring to the table and what my teammates can do. I'm here to deliver tough basketball. We are improving every day," he said.