Maccabi Tel Aviv Coach Calls for Response After Poor EuroLeague Start

Maccabi Tel Aviv's basketball team has begun its EuroLeague season with two losses in its first two games, falling to Villeurbanne 84-74 and Besiktas 109-93. The team departed Belgrade for Greece on Thursday to face Panathinaikos in a difficult away game scheduled for Friday at 9:15 PM. Adding to the team's challenges, starting center Daniel Theis is considered doubtful for the upcoming match due to a concerning injury. The club announced that the German forward will undergo further examination before the game against coach Željko Obradović's team.

Coach Oded Katash acknowledged the disappointing start, stating, "Obviously, we didn't want to open the EuroLeague season with two losses, but it is our responsibility to respond." He anticipates a very tough game against Panathinaikos, emphasizing the need for the team to "lift their heads" and remain united, with significant improvements needed, particularly on defense.

Player TJ Leaf echoed the sentiment, calling for increased intensity and a stronger desire from the opening tip. He noted the team's struggle to establish an identity early in games, leading to early deficits. Leaf described the upcoming game as one the team "must come to ready for," acknowledging the difficulty, especially given their recent performances.

Teammate Keaton Wallace highlighted defense as the primary area for improvement, contrasting it with a relatively good offensive output that still resulted in a high score conceded. He pointed out that while the team scored 93 points, they allowed 109, indicating where their focus must lie. Wallace also commented on the challenging atmosphere of playing in Athens, noting that any crowd noise, even if not supportive, can be a significant factor when not playing at home.