Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Itoudis Previews Tough EuroLeague Clash
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dimitris Itoudis anticipates a difficult EuroLeague game against undefeated Panathinaikos, a team he says is "built to go all the way." Forward Zach LeDay highlighted the need for intense focus throughout the match. Panathinaikos coach Željko Obradović, Itoudis's former mentor, downplayed the personal rivalry, stating the game is between the two teams.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dimitris Itoudis faces his former mentor Željko Obradović in a EuroLeague game against Panathinaikos.
- Itoudis described Panathinaikos as a team "built to go all the way" and stressed the need for physicality and rebounding.
- Hapoel forward Zach LeDay called for 40 minutes of complete focus against a tough opponent.
- Obradović stated the game is Panathinaikos versus Hapoel, not a personal contest with Itoudis.
- Panathinaikos is undefeated in the EuroLeague heading into the matchup.
Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dimitris Itoudis is preparing his team for a challenging EuroLeague game against undefeated Panathinaikos in Greece. Itoudis, who previously worked with Panathinaikos coach Željko Obradović for many years, acknowledged the strength of their opponent, stating, "We will meet a team that was built to go all the way." He emphasized the need to counter Panathinaikos' aggression on both ends of the court, manage their physicality, control the game's tempo, secure good shots, and win the rebounding battle.
Forward Zach LeDay echoed the sentiment, noting the team's positive response after recent losses with wins in the Israeli league and against Besiktas in the EuroLeague. LeDay stressed the importance of complete focus for the entire 40 minutes against one of the competition's toughest opponents. He stated, "We will need to be focused for all 40 minutes and give our best."
Obradović, when asked about his relationship with Itoudis, downplayed the personal aspect of the upcoming game. "The game is not Obradović versus Itoudis. The game is Panathinaikos versus Hapoel," he clarified. He described Itoudis as "my brother" and confirmed they would meet, but reiterated that the focus should be on the teams' competition.
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