Maccabi Tel Aviv Suffers Blowout Loss to Panathinaikos in EuroLeague

Maccabi Tel Aviv's EuroLeague struggles continued Friday with a decisive 90-67 defeat against Panathinaikos in Athens. Following earlier losses to weaker opponents, the Israeli champions were outmatched by the Greek powerhouse, with the score reflecting a clear skill gap from start to finish.

Coach Oded Katash expressed his disappointment, stating, "It doesn't feel good, and it's not necessarily about the result." He elaborated that winning in Athens requires an exceptional performance, and his team quickly became frustrated, deviating from their intended game plan. Katash highlighted poor shooting from beyond the arc, with the team missing their first 10 three-point attempts, and turnovers that led to easy points for the opponent.

Katash observed a lack of confidence and visible body language issues, despite the team's effort. He suggested that a couple of made three-pointers could have boosted morale, as confidence often stems from successful shots. The coach emphasized the need for the team to establish and believe in a consistent playing style, a stage they have not yet reached.

Reflecting on the team's performance, Katash admitted, "We have shortcomings, we won't get into them." He speculated that after a previous win against Hapoel Tel Aviv, the team might have expected easier success. "Obviously, we are in a bad situation, we need to find a way to believe more in what we are doing," he concluded.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will seek their first EuroLeague victory of the season next week when they face Milan in Serbia.