Maccabi Electra Tel-Aviv - 2013/2014

[Idans10]

Forget about Bobby Brown. They could bring someone much better and for a change a pure PG instead of Rice. Yes, he might cost a bit more, but for me the PG is the most important role in basketball and it's about time that Maccabi will have a hierarchy like a healthy normal club, like they had in the past years. it's better to bring 3 quality players who will be surrounded by role players, then to bring 8-9 average players. And I'm not blaming Rice here. He's an average players who may suit for a smaller clubs and surely plays in a position that he's not feeling comfort in. He maybe a scorer and maybe shoots well (still haven't see it eithrer), but it's not the kind of players that Maccabi needs.The only people here to blame are the staff and the management who are year after year still don't learn from their mistakes.

I also herd fans who would like to see Blatt out from the team. Great. And who we will bring exactly? There's no Israeli coach today who can coach Maccabi, beside Pini and Zvika. I assume that Goodes will get the job if Blatt will be fired, but it's a risk like they did with Kattash. A foreign coach would be great, but it means that they will have to splash the cash in order to bring a quality coach and this is something that I don't think that they'll do.

[maccabeo]

Naimy has nothing to do with playmaking. But when nothing is going in a game, you have to step over your shadow. Too bad, Blatt didn't do it. On the other hand, it wasn't a blowout. A one-point loss.

MTA fans are absolutely right to go to the airport and welcome a new player. That lets him get into his comfort zone easier. For the same reason Maccabi has had Moni Fanan, Derrick Sharp in his last years. The new player is part of the family and there is no reason to boycott him.

Since Eliyahu wasn't prolongued, Tyus, coming off a solid season with Cantu, was plus-minus the best Israeli big man. Needed for the league, needed for the future. Not for one of the öeading roles but for dirty work. Whatever worked out in Cantu can work out in Maccabi, when he settles down.

tyus was mediocre last year. no cantu's fans has regrets for him. there were other israelis like halperin who allowed us bringing a foreing big man,but u should know that salaries are the main mover for our owners and blatt likes a pf like tyus. muscles and jumps. doesnt matter he has no talent. again this team is far from big teams,but we could be incredibly close simply adding one more c as same as james level and a playmaker who take off the court ohayon. the problems are conomically federman and techinically,blatt

[Idans10]

Maccabeo, you are completely wrong regarding Tyus. In Ashdod he was a vital part, in Cantu he had a decent season and he also was a major part for the NT. He's not suppose to be the star in Maccabi, he should be a role player, do the dirty work like goga said. Last year when had James in the paint and that's it. Planinic' was horrible, Thomas & Shermadini were released and James needed to play 30+ minutes per game. Now we have both Sofo and Tyus to help him, to give fouls to give him his rest, plus Tyus in general is a good defensive player, rebounding and shot blocker. Syl also had some trouble to adapt last season and so ar this season he looks much better. So maybe it won't be tyus's year but I have no doubt that he will contribute us in the future a lot.

[goga78]

Forget about Bobby Brown. They could bring someone much better and for a change a pure PG instead of Rice. Yes, he might cost a bit more, but for me the PG is the most important role in basketball and it's about time that Maccabi will have a hierarchy like a healthy normal club, like they had in the past years. it's better to bring 3 quality players who will be surrounded by role players, then to bring 8-9 average players. And I'm not blaming Rice here. He's an average players who may suit for a smaller clubs and surely plays in a position that he's not feeling comfort in. He maybe a scorer and maybe shoots well (still haven't see it eithrer), but it's not the kind of players that Maccabi needs.The only people here to blame are the staff and the management who are year after year still don't learn from their mistakes.

Absolutely. It's not like Rice came with a cheap price tag on him. He has cost 450.000 - 550.000 for sure. Maccabi needed a different kind of PG. I was for Planinic to come over. Yes, he is not the fastest player around, yes, he might demand the ball too much and choke in crunchtime. Yes, he is expensive. But He wouldn't be the player Maccabi would have to throw into the mix, when his game is not going (crunchtime). But Planinic is tall experienced and can set up the whole team on offense. At the same time, he can score by himself.

I also herd fans who would like to see Blatt out from the team. Great. And who we will bring exactly? There's no Israeli coach today who can coach Maccabi, beside Pini and Zvika. I assume that Goodes will get the job if Blatt will be fired, but it's a risk like they did with Kattash. A foreign coach would be great, but it means that they will have to splash the cash in order to bring a quality coach and this is something that I don't think that they'll do.

It's not the fans (they have nothing to complain about) but some of the press, which usually are biased towards Maccabi (look out, I'm the one saying this!). It seems like the younger generation in Maccabi's ownership in not content with Blatt. But, guess what, they are the one who forced up players on him. So, better not listen to them. Yes, they have the power but they are not good at basketball management. Since they came into the management, Maccabi started to do worse. Maccabi will never sign a different coach this season. It's either Blatt or Goodes.

[goga78]

tyus was mediocre last year. no cantu's fans has regrets for him. there were other israelis like halperin who allowed us bringing a foreing big man,but u should know that salaries are the main mover for our owners and blatt likes a pf like tyus. muscles and jumps. doesnt matter he has no talent. again this team is far from big teams,but we could be incredibly close simply adding one more c as same as james level and a playmaker who take off the court ohayon. the problems are conomically federman and techinically,blatt

I don't care about Cantu fans. I have watched enough EL games of Cantu to know that such a player - he is not a leader - can very well be used in any club that needs athleticism because it doesn't have a lot of size.

I would like to see Halperin on Maccabi and I have written it here in the summer. But with the situation with Ohayon pending and Halperin having health issues, Maccabi decided not to go for him. Instead, they have signed Naimy. I guess, not for a very different price tag.

Ohayon poses only one problem for Maccabi: he is the team's only PG. Otherwise, he is doing fine. One more C? If this C would be able to play PF, too, then yes. But Tyus and Cohen have contracts and Maccabi doesn't have any more money to splash on a player YOU would like. Look at what EFF numbers James is putting up in Europe. Bringing in another such center would cost Maccabi the kind of money it can't spend. Anyway, I think, saving the money for Rice, Naimy and Tyus, which is around a million and bringing in a leading PG and a solid and experienced C wouldn't make the equation. The C (John Bryant) would cost around 700.000 € (not USD!), while Planinic costs around 2 mio. Plus, we would have to scratch off two Israeli players here. It's somewhat difficult. But right now, the season has barely started and Maccabi has to work with what it#s got before making debts and throwing things around. As I said, other teams are getting players for huge salaries who still don't produce. Best example - CSKA. Barca isn't doing great, too. Yet, nobody is going crazy there after two weeks.

[goga78]

Maccabeo, you are completely wrong regarding Tyus. In Ashdod he was a vital part, in Cantu he had a decent season and he also was a major part for the NT. He's not suppose to be the star in Maccabi, he should be a role player, do the dirty work like goga said. Last year when had James in the paint and that's it. Planinic' was horrible, Thomas & Shermadini were released and James needed to play 30+ minutes per game. Now we have both Sofo and Tyus to help him, to give fouls to give him his rest, plus Tyus in general is a good defensive player, rebounding and shot blocker. Syl also had some trouble to adapt last season and so ar this season he looks much better. So maybe it won't be tyus's year but I have no doubt that he will contribute us in the future a lot.

First year at Maccabi is tough. Vujcic was loaned, Parker was almost released, Pargo struggled the whole regular season, Eidson started to produce big only in his second season. Rookies will struggle and that's normal. Shawn James did have major difficulties on the floor in his first year. He couldn't score and he had a tough time to defend, jumping on every fake. He still is not 100% comfortable. In Bnei Hasharon he was shooting from midrange. He never does so in Maccabi. Apparently, the coach has forbidden him such an improvisation. He is looking for a handoff even when he is unguarded. His play became less diverse, yet more effective. Since Maccabi is unable to take the league by storm, it has to use its most effective ways to score and that is using guards and wingmen.

One last thing about Rice, since I hear you haven't seen him shoot the ball well. If we take away his drives and shooting percentage close to the basket, let's take a look at his threes: 4/8 in Israel and 2/4 in the EL. You could say, you haven't seen him shooting the ball much and can't judge him yet (I have seen him play a lot of times to judge his strengths and weaknesses) but not that you haven't seen him shooting the ball well ;-)

BTW, given him having a totally new role and still adapting, if you just take a look at his stats, they are fine.

http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=TEL&pcode=003367&seasoncode=E2013

http://www.safsal.co.il/GameLog.aspx?id=33328&s=2014

But that shows you how stats are different than the actual game. I found him to play quite well vs. Zvezda, especially bringing Sofo into the limelight. But he was clearly not assuming his role like we would like a playmaker do it. His assists come from his own movement not from ball movement. Halperin has done it wonderfully in Munich, while Rice had to force the play. Maccabi hardly needs more one-on-one specialists. It has good finishers inside and outside. It needs ball movement. But Rice is a scoring threat who can pass the ball, while Hickman is a scorer who is not a good passer. He is not greedy with the ball, he just isn't a good passer.

Anyway, let's wait and see. I expect a major defensive battle on Friday in Kuban. While having good shooters in Bykov, Jasaitis Kalnietis, Simon and Williams, this team is horrific from beyond the arc. Pashutin has learned his basketball from Blatt, thus his teams are always very defensive-oriented. Maccabi has to keep Hendrix off the boards. If Smith can stop Brown the same way he did with Blake Schilb, it will already be half the job. But Williams is better than Schilb imho, especially in this matchup. Marcus Williams is instant offense. Bookmakers are giving Loko an edge (1.60 vs. 2.30) but it is quite narrow.

[Billy Bounce]

goga,

I mean to shoot off the dribble , to be a threat when playing PG. I don't think Maccabi need him as yet another SG. Hickman, as a proven stock is expected to play 25-30 min at this spot. The rest 10-15 min could be easily split between Landesberg, Ingles , Smith .To be honest, I'd rather see Landesberg ( who was brilliant during pre-season games ) playing more.

Naimy is a pretty solid PG , speaking on offense, but he would be a black hole in defense against quick EL PGs. Can't blame him personally , bad defense is a trend among basically all Israeli guards. Ohayon ( and maybe Mekel ) are the only exceptions.

Don't see Tyus getting minutes @ C with healthy James & Sofo . Tyus can't play with Sofo & James @PF : he can't shoot , so he's increasing traffic in the paint, instead of opening it up for Cs to operate.

Maccabi is playing terrible right now. They could be easily 0-3 in BSL and 0-2 in EL , if not a great shooting night vs Zvezda

[Idans10]

Haha, well when I ment that he didn't shhot well, I ment that some of his shoots were seemed like he was shooting bricks to the basketball. I know that his percentages are not bad, but just like Hickman, you cannot count on his shooting ability like you can count on Blu, Saras or Logan. He does have great penetrations into the basket, although his finishing still a bit lacking. It also can be because he is still didn't adapt to the team, no an easy thing for a player to play in Maccabi for the first time but unfortunately he came into an uncomfortable situation. Just like you, I would much rather see Zoran Planinic' in this team.

[Billy Bounce]

Not to go too off topic but to you think Pargo can co-exist with Teodosic in CSKA? Messina talked about Teodosic having a different role this year (even playing him at SG for periods) but his playing time hasn't gone done and he still seems to be the lead guard. Maybe Pargo needs a little time to adjust to this team but it seems when he was signed they didn't plan on Teo still being there.

Pargo needs to be a king of the jungle to be effective. He had the same troubles in Galil when started to share his minutes with Gal Mekel. I think Pargo was good in Maccabi , just because he played with no-ego Perkins.

Can he succeed in CSKA with "ego-maniac" Teodosic & Jackson seating on the same spot? I don't think so. Too bad CSKA didn't asked me before signing him , I could easily save them a couple of millions

[goga78]

goga,

I mean to shoot off the dribble , to be a threat when playing PG.

Oh, he can do this easily. When he is totally free, he is doing some kind of a set shot but he can score one-on-one in many different ways.

I don't think Maccabi need him as yet another SG. Hickman, as a proven stock is expected to play 25-30 min at this spot. The rest 10-15 min could be easily split between Landesberg, Ingles , Smith .To be honest, I'd rather see Landesberg ( who was brilliant during pre-season games ) playing more.

Absolutely. Me, too.

Naimy is a pretty solid PG , speaking on offense, but he would be a black hole in defense against quick EL PGs. Can't blame him personally , bad defense is a trend among basically all Israeli guards. Ohayon ( and maybe Mekel ) are the only exceptions.

He is a good outside shooter but otherwise, he wouldn't cut a good figure on that level (not just EL but Maccabi). He was the third choice behind Ohayon and Halperin (he isn't a PG but a good playmaker). Still, should Maccabi keep him, I wish him to get playing time in domestic competition at least. It's a shame that he came over in one situation and now is suffering from it.

Don't see Tyus getting minutes @ C with healthy James & Sofo .

Both of them can'T play for long minutes and both are foul-prone.

Tyus can't play with Sofo & James @PF : he can't shoot , so he's increasing traffic in the paint, instead of opening it up for Cs to operate.

Absolutely. My words.

Maccabi is playing terrible right now. They could be easily 0-3 in BSL and 0-2 in EL , if not a great shooting night vs Zvezda

They could also be 3-0 and 2-0 right now :-) 1-4 points of difference can go in both directions.

Maccabi is still struggling somewhat in the moment but I wouldn't take the domestic results seriously, if we are talking mainly about EL. At home, Maccabi was playing with a different roster. I listed the guys who didn't play and first 6-7 players of Maccabi are not that superior to the starting five of the opponent, especially if it is having a good day.

[goga78]

Pargo needs to be a king of the jungle to be effective. He had the same troubles in Galil when started to share his minutes with Gal Mekel. I think Pargo was good in Maccabi , just because he played with no-ego Perkins.

100%

And don't forget about Eidson. This was a very well passing team.

Can he succeed in CSKA with "ego-maniac" Teodosic & Jackson seating on the same spot? I don't think so. Too bad CSKA didn't asked me before signing him , I could easily save them a couple of millions

Well, if everyone of them can play primadonna for like 15-20 minutes, then it's possible. But right now they aren't looking well.

[maccabeo]

one of recently wrote that mta will change the roster soon , as reported by somebody in mta.
well, if really and finally blatt is going to reduce minutes by ohayon we also add another c cutting sofo, this team could be a really greatest el surpise. what ingles is giving, us is clear from every point of views. always the best choise, rebounding, shooting, penetrating. this is a true star and blu is the usual solid player we needed. so , i hardly hope owners will add a c. just with james we cant do anything great consifering that ball to sofo it means ball lost. as i always wrote ,doesnt matter ohayon is the lonely true playmaker. without him ,with best players on court this team increase a lot his value

[ran222]

so , i hardly hope owners will add a c. just with james we cant do anything great consifering that ball to sofo it means ball lost.

0% that Maccabi will cut Sofo. you can dream about it but it won't happen.

Maccabi already spent more money than the original plan, by adding Blu.

Now they are trying to find a team for Cohen (1 year loan), but no result yet.

This is the (painful) reality.

[maccabeo]

0% that Maccabi will cut Sofo. you can dream about it but it won't happen.

Maccabi already spent more money than the original plan, by adding Blu.

Now they are trying to find a team for Cohen (1 year loan), but no result yet.

This is the (painful) reality.

we cutted many players in last year , why not sofo? consifer that sofo will find a team surely. in greece he could find one ,hopefully maybe in eurocup too. even if i consider sofo an ex bball player who cant play in any of major eu league, i guess as he find a contract in yellow, he could find a team with managers who still want him.
anyway, mta should try finding a team for him. i d never would loan cohen and naimy considering them absolutely good players who can help us as landesberg who is incredibly misconsiodered by blatt. last but not least, releasing ohayon would be another step allowing us to get some money. i know, this is more a dream because blatt and managers arent so smart to understand it,but let me at least dream

[maccabeo]

..techincally writing, after the match vs kuban ,i hardly hope finally blatt understood this team is stronger without ohayon on court