Maccabi Tel Aviv Suffers Worst EuroLeague Start After Panathinaikos Loss

Maccabi Tel Aviv experienced its worst-ever EuroLeague season start, suffering a significant 90-67 defeat to Panathinaikos on Friday. This marked their third loss of the current EuroLeague season. Head coach Oded Katash expressed his disappointment, stating that the loss felt bad not just because of the score, but due to the team's performance and lack of confidence.

Katash highlighted several issues contributing to the loss, including a poor first-half shooting performance with zero successful three-pointers and numerous turnovers leading to easy points for the opponent. He described a lack of confidence and poor body language from his players. The coach acknowledged that teams need to play exceptionally well to win in this arena, but felt his team was missing a crucial element.

"We need to build a way we want to play, to believe in it, and we are not there yet," Katash stated. He explained that in the first two games, the team was beaten and forced off their intended game plan. Following a win against Hapoel Tel Aviv, there was an expectation that things would improve more easily, but this has not materialized.

Katash emphasized the need for the team to find a way to believe in their process and secure their first win, which he believes will provide much-needed energy and confidence. He alluded to existing shortcomings within the team but declined to elaborate, focusing instead on the team's consistency and the need to find their identity on the court.