Maccabi Tel Aviv Ends Losing Streak with Dominant EuroLeague Victory

Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a crucial 97-79 win against Milan in the EuroLeague, snapping a three-game losing streak and alleviating pressure on coach Oded Katash. The victory came exactly 28 years after Maccabi last started a EuroLeague season with three consecutive losses, a period that saw significant coaching and player changes.

Milan, who had defeated Maccabi in their last four encounters, appeared disorganized and lacked effective playmaking, struggling to utilize their strengths in the paint. The article criticizes Milan's roster construction and coaching, suggesting they are unlikely to reach the playoffs.

In contrast, Maccabi displayed a renewed sense of urgency, particularly on defense. They initiated defense from half-court, committed fouls strategically to limit easy baskets, and significantly improved their second-half defense, forcing 12 steals compared to an average of six in previous games. The team also limited Milan to just seven three-pointers, a stark improvement from their previous average of 16.

Offensively, Yam Madar delivered his second-best EuroLeague performance, while Bonzie Colson had a strong final quarter. However, the article notes that the guard rotation, including Kiton Wallace, still tends to over-dribble and create for themselves rather than teammates. Coach Katash continued his disciplinary approach with Roman Sorkin, benching him after defensive errors, though Sorkin still managed 12 points in 11 minutes.

The article also highlights Panathinaikos, coached by Zeljko Obradovic, as the current dominant force in the EuroLeague, having crushed Fenerbahce convincingly. Obradovic's team is described as deep and formidable, with aspirations for a tenth EuroLeague title.