Maccabi Tel Aviv Suffers Poor EuroLeague Start, Faces Criticism

Maccabi Tel Aviv has endured a particularly poor start to its EuroLeague season, currently sitting at the bottom of the standings with no wins after three rounds. The team suffered a significant defeat on Friday, losing 67-90 to Panathinaikos in Greece. This disappointing performance has drawn surprise not only in Israel but across Europe, with "basketballsphere" labeling Maccabi as the week's biggest loser. The publication questioned the team's roster construction, stating, "If we had to choose the team that makes the least sense regarding its squad building, it would be Maccabi Tel Aviv." They noted the team's disjointed play, despite a good showing against Hapoel Tel Aviv, and questioned the decision not to acquire a point guard focused on involving the frontcourt players like Daniel Theis, Roman Sorkin, Jalen Hurd, Bonzie Colson, and Josh Nebo. Instead, Maccabi opted for a backcourt where players are perceived to prioritize creating shots for themselves, sometimes overlooking teammates. This issue was evident in losses to Besiktas and Panathinaikos, where Maccabi was decisively outplayed. Spanish outlet "encestando" also criticized Maccabi, highlighting their losing streak and weak performances in recent defeats. The outlet pointed out that some had considered Maccabi a surprise contender for a playoff spot, but they are currently far from that, with no significant injuries to use as an excuse.