Maccabi Tel Aviv Seen as Potential Dark Horse in EuroLeague Season

As the EuroLeague season approaches, Israeli teams Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv prepare for competition with hopes of success. In a recent podcast by BasketNews, analysts assessed both teams' prospects and rosters.

Maccabi Tel Aviv received praise for its frontcourt depth, with additions like Tays helping key players Roman Sorkin and Jalen Hood-Schifino. Analyst Gytis Blazevicius noted the team’s growth from last season and potential momentum. Donatas Urbonas highlighted the strong front line and reliance on Jimmy Clark as a possible new team leader, despite lacking a star comparable to last season’s Loni Walker. Urbonas suggested Maccabi could be the EuroLeague’s dark horse, underestimated by many, especially if Clark emerges as a star.

Regarding Hapoel Tel Aviv, Blazevicius pointed out the team’s large roster of 21 players and improved depth, including frontcourt reinforcement Zach LeDay. However, he criticized the lack of defensive upgrades, mentioning only one defensive specialist, Ish Weinerite. Urbonas cautioned against focusing solely on roster size, emphasizing the importance of team spirit and coaching under Dimitris Itoudis. He noted the team retained most of its core players from last season but questioned their enthusiasm under the current coach, suggesting that attitude will be crucial for improvement.

Both analysts agreed that while Maccabi shows clear potential and cohesion, Hapoel’s success will depend on defensive improvements and team morale. The upcoming EuroLeague season will reveal whether these Israeli teams can capitalize on their strengths and overcome challenges.