Hapoel Tel Aviv Coach Blames Collapse on Lack of Aggression
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Hapoel Tel Aviv lost the Winner Cup final to Maccabi Tel Aviv 86-75 after leading by 23 points, marking their first domestic trophy miss since 1993. Coach Dimitris Itoudis blamed the collapse on a loss of aggression and poor ball security, while player Kadin Carrington cited an inability to adapt to Maccabi's second-half adjustments. Itoudis also discussed the club's pursuit of a permanent EuroLeague license.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Tel Aviv lost the Winner Cup final to Maccabi Tel Aviv 86-75 after blowing a 23-point lead.
- Coach Dimitris Itoudis denied a mental block, citing a loss of aggression and poor ball security.
- Player Kadin Carrington admitted Hapoel Tel Aviv failed to adapt to Maccabi's second-half adjustments.
- Hapoel Tel Aviv has not won a domestic trophy since 1993.
- Itoudis expressed optimism about Hapoel Tel Aviv's efforts to secure a permanent EuroLeague license.
Hapoel Tel Aviv suffered a stunning 86-75 defeat to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Winner Cup final on Monday, squandering a 23-point lead. The team, coached by Dimitris Itoudis, dominated for nearly three quarters before collapsing in the decisive moments, allowing their city rivals to secure the title. Hapoel Tel Aviv has not won a domestic trophy since 1993.
Following the game, Itoudis dismissed suggestions that the loss indicated a mental block against Maccabi Tel Aviv. "I wasn't here 33 years ago, so let's not make this a story," he stated. He attributed the collapse to poor ball security and a loss of the aggressive play that characterized their performance for most of the game, which allowed Maccabi to gain confidence and mount a comeback. "We stopped playing with the aggression that characterized us for almost three quarters, and it's disappointing," Itoudis added.
Player Kadin Carrington also struggled to explain the turnaround, admitting that Hapoel Tel Aviv failed to adapt to Maccabi's adjustments in the second half. "We didn't adapt to the game like Maccabi Tel Aviv adapted," Carrington said. "In the second half, they took the sting out of us, and we couldn't respond. It's on us. It's very disappointing. We need to be good in all aspects of the game."
Despite the painful loss, Itoudis commented on Hapoel Tel Aviv's aspirations for a permanent EuroLeague license, expressing optimism about the club's efforts and the league's perception of them as a stable organization capable of building a strong roster.
This missed opportunity is particularly significant for Hapoel Tel Aviv, who were in a prime position to win the cup. They will now need to recover from this setback as they face further matchups against their city rivals later in the season.
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