Maccabi Tel Aviv Suffers Third Straight EuroLeague Loss, Starts Season 0-3

Maccabi Tel Aviv experienced another significant defeat in the EuroLeague on Friday, losing 90-67 to Panathinaikos. This marks the team's third consecutive loss in the competition, and for the first time in nearly three decades, they have begun their European season with an 0-3 record, currently placing them at the bottom of the league standings.

The game was characterized by Maccabi's struggles from the outset. They trailed from the first minute, had difficulty scoring, and failed to match their opponent's pace. The team scored only 10 points in the first quarter and a mere 24 in the first half, one of their lowest-scoring halves ever. At halftime, they had zero successful three-point attempts out of ten, nine turnovers, and only three players with more than two points. "The defensive and offensive stats were terrible, nothing we did worked. We lost confidence with every shot that didn't go in," sources within the team stated. "As usual, we had no defense, and offensively we have a very big problem that we must solve. There is no shooter to lead the team, neither from three nor from the field."

Coach Oded Katash described the game as another poor performance, emphasizing that the manner of play was more concerning than the loss itself. He noted the team's poor shooting percentages and how it affected their body language, leading to uncharacteristic mistakes. "We know we are better than this, which is why we are so frustrated. We have a lot of quality, but how we played for many minutes is worrying us," Katash said.

Panathinaikos capitalized on Maccabi's weaknesses, hitting easy three-pointers and layups, and benefiting from Maccabi's turnovers. This trend continued into the second half, with Maccabi failing to connect offensively and continuing to falter defensively. The team finished the game shooting 21.4% from three-point range and committed 16 turnovers, a recurring issue this season. "We didn't look good and nobody can pinpoint exactly what happened. Everyone looks depressed. We need to lift our heads," club sources commented. "Fortunately, we have another game on Sunday, and we hope to recover from this loss. We need to professionally examine things, and also look at what's happening beyond the professional aspect."

Player Jaylen Hoard, who scored only two points, urged the team to stay united despite the frustration of three straight losses. "We need to see what we did wrong, learn from it, lift our heads, and try to improve game by game. It's a long season, so we need to stay together and not let frustration bring us down. We need to stay optimistic and learn from our mistakes," Hoard stated.

Guard Iffe Lundberg, who contributed six points, added that the team played with a lack of energy, intensity, and execution. "We had a good game plan, but we failed in how we executed it. Luckily, it's only the beginning of the season, so there's no point in panicking. But we understand the magnitude of the EuroLeague and the importance of every game. We must fix this," Lundberg said.

Meanwhile, Daniel Theis, who missed the game due to an ankle injury, is being evaluated for the upcoming match against Hapoel Jerusalem in the Winner Cup semifinals. John DiBartolomeo is also expected to miss that game due to his brother's wedding.