Hapoel Jerusalem Stays Perfect in League Play

Hapoel Jerusalem maintained its undefeated status in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, defeating Hapoel Eilat 88-78 on Sunday to hold a 4-0 record. Jalen Smith led Jerusalem with 18 points, acknowledging the team's adjustment to Eilat's zone defense and the absence of key players like Lofton and Lorenzo Brown. Smith also spoke about his role as a leader and veteran on the team, emphasizing the importance of chemistry and the team's focus on remaining undefeated before the international break.

Coach Sasha Obradovic noted missed opportunities near the basket and the team's need to adapt to Eilat's zone defense, highlighting Eilat's speed and the defensive efforts of their tall players. He also mentioned the upcoming game against Aris, who recently defeated Panathinaikos, and stressed the physical nature of the anticipated match. Obradovic credited the team's collective effort, mentioning contributions from Smith, David Rudin, Lofton, Shayk Milton, Yotam Genoci, and Roi Huber. He also referenced a past trauma from the 2017-18 season when his team lost the EuroCup final to David Blatt's Darüşşafaka, despite having a perfect record until then.

Eilat's coach, Oren Aharoni, whose team fell to a 2-2 record, attributed the loss to a slow start and a lack of intensity. He acknowledged Jerusalem's ability to exploit weaknesses and praised their strong defense, particularly from their big men, which forced Eilat to alter their game plan. Aharoni stated that his team was not focused enough to close the gap and ultimately not good enough to secure a victory.