How long we’ve waited!
Maccabi Tel Aviv wants a second consecutive European win and its first in more than two years at its true home in Yad Eliyahu when it hosts last-place ASVEL Villeurbanne on Thursday, 21:05. Hapoel Tel Aviv who is waiting to return home, heads to Bologna (Friday, 21:30) and will try to impress again against Virtus, ahead of the crucial week awaiting it just around the corner. Everything you need to know before tip-off.

Back Home
Maccabi Tel Aviv has some positive momentum, yes you read that correctly. The national-team break apparently came at exactly the right time, because since returning, things are looking much better for the yellow-and-blue. Oded Katash’s status as head coach has stabilized, Iffe Lundberg is beginning to find his rhythm, Lonnie Walker looks in peak form and after the impressive win over Zalgiris came another strong victory against Rishon Le’Zion. But perhaps the biggest thing, bigger even than signing Zach Hankins is Maccabi’s return to the “Menora” arena in Yad Eliyahu after two (and a third) seasons in exile in Belgrade.

Maccabi has an excellent opportunity to start its home stand on the right foot as it faces the only team ranked below it in the standings, ASVEL Villeurbanne. Last week, the French put up a respectable fight against a sleepy Hapoel Tel Aviv, until the reds pulled themselves together in the fourth quarter, went on a 21–3 run and closed out the game. Nando De Colo delivered an excellent performance, but around him is a roster that would probably struggle even in the EuroCup (see stats published in the previous column, they haven’t changed much). During the minutes in which Nando caught his breath on the bench, fewer than 14, his team scored far fewer points than Hapoel, 26 to be exact.

Riding their recent wins, with an almost full roster (Dowtin is questionable) and a packed arena, Maccabi is a full-on favorite to record its first European winning streak this season and perhaps give the crowd their first real EuroLeague show at home.

Worth Watching
Welcome (back) Zach Hankins. The American center returns for a third stint in Israel as an important addition to Maccabi’s frontcourt. Hankins brings size and height, is an excellent rebounder and also has European and local experience all of which, given today’s market conditions, make him a reinforcement that looks quite good on paper.

After impressing in Rishon LeZion and Hapoel Jerusalem, Hankins, who also made stops in Turkey, Romania, Australia and even Puerto Rico struggled in Granada and now gets a golden opportunity to play in the EuroLeague for the first time, for a team that was almost as desperate for a true center as it was to return to home games.

Weak Point
Against Zalgiris, we saw a Maccabi team that showed energy and defensive fire and held the Lithuanians to just 65 points, but the numbers say it is still the worst defensive team in the league. Although ASVEL is catching up to it in some parameters, Katash’s squad still allows the most points per game (92.6), gives up the most rebounds (defensive 25.8, offensive 14.1), and allows the highest two-point percentage (60.4%). Maccabi wants to prove that the defensive performance in Lithuania wasn’t a one-off. If it was, well, there will be problems.

Final Rehearsal
On the red side of the city, things are also looking bright, especially on the injury front. Tomer Ginat returned to the court against Villeurbanne, Guy Palatin against Hapoel HaEmek and both Tai Odiase and Bruno Caboclo are back to training while Yam Madar has already starred in the win over HaEmek. Itoudis’ roster is filling up at the perfect time, as next week a crucial test for the rest of the season awaits: a double week starting with the return-to-Israel game against Red Star Belgrade, followed by a very tough road game against Panathinaikos.

This week, the reds meet Virtus Bologna a team they are on paper supposed to beat and remain alone atop the EuroLeague standings. The Italians arrive after a close win over Dubai thanks to a game-winner by Luca Vildoza, and Hapoel will also have to overcome obstacles such as Matthew Morgan, Mohamed Diouf and of course Carsen Edwards who as we recall did whatever they wanted against Maccabi Tel Aviv team. It’s an excellent opportunity for Hapoel to get its offense back in rhythm after showing some stalling ahead of the big week to come. On the other hand, last week Hapoel also faced a weaker opponent, but due to complacency fell behind with poor performances by Vasilije Micic and Elijah Bryant and escaped only thanks to a late surge by Antonio Blakeney but only after Itoudis demanded they show some passion.

Worth Watching
You said passion then you said Yam Madar. The Israeli guard was already suited up on the bench against Villeurbanne, but the red team’s struggle may have postponed his season debut to last Saturday night, when he already showed his abilities in the win over HaEmek. With his happy return, Hapoel Tel Aviv currently has four talented point guards on its EuroLeague roster: Micic, Chris Jones, Tyler Ennis and Madar. It will be interesting to see how many minutes Madar gets in Bologna and no less interesting, at whose expense.

Weak Point
It’s not Valencia, not Panathinaikos and not Red Star Belgrade. The best home team in the competition this year is Virtus Bologna. With six wins in six home games, Virtus is the only team in the league still undefeated at home. Hapoel, meanwhile, is the best road team in the competition (7–2 record), but will that be enough for them to succeed where Real Madrid, Monaco and Panathinaikos have failed?

Outside of Israel
Almost simultaneously with Hapoel Tel Aviv’s game, the fiery Belgrade derby will take place (Friday, 21:30). Partizan hosts Red Star and it’s not at all clear which side’s fans will deliver the louder boos. The black-and-white fans gave Zeljko Obradovic a display of loyalty and it doesn’t seem the victory by the roster that pushed him out impressed them much. On the other side comes the hated rival after a loss to Barcelona but still sitting in third place, 13 spots above the torn Partizan who might be united only by this derby.