Ex-Coach Pini Gershon Criticizes Hapoel Tel Aviv's Handling of Elijah Bryant

Former coach Pini Gershon has criticized the game management of Hapoel Tel Aviv's coach, Dimitris Itoudis, particularly concerning the use of player Elijah Bryant during their recent 93-82 loss to Valencia. Gershon, speaking on the "Al Ha'Buzzer" podcast, suggested that Bryant's extended time on the bench negatively impacted his ability to perform.

Bryant was notably kept on the bench for a significant period, including a stretch of nearly half an hour between the second and third quarters. Gershon argued that such prolonged inactivity makes it difficult for even a talented player like Bryant to maintain control of his abilities and impact the game. He suggested that shorter stints on the court, even for a few minutes, would have been more beneficial than being sidelined for so long.

Despite his criticism of Bryant's usage, Gershon praised the performance of Antonio Blakeney, calling it his best game for Hapoel Tel Aviv. Gershon also highlighted the importance of players who can create their own shots, defining the ideal player from a coach's perspective as one who can "create his own shot." He believes that effectively managing such players is crucial for their influence in key moments, which is where he felt Itoudis's management of Bryant fell short.