Disappointment in Maccabi Tel Aviv after the 95:79 loss to Panathinaikos last night (Thursday) in the second game of the playoff series. The matchup once again provided several events that on the one hand add interest to the competitiveness, such as the gathering of the players after the blocking of Kostas Etokompo and Antonios Cleveland, but on the other hand simply turn the series into something else that just drags it down. The loss means at least two games will be played in Belgrade next week, with the question of Wade Baldwin and whether he will be able to play in Game 3 of the playoffs and the unexpected surprise that was near the team bus.
Baldwin for 3? Game 3
Maccabi Tel Aviv showed this season that they can win without their undisputed star, but if they can have him then there is really no question here. As of writing these lines, Wade Baldwin IV is in doubt for the third game in the series, at the same time both the player and the club are not ready to give up either the series and certainly not his playing minutes, for that the national champion is ready to try everything to train one of the best guards of This year’s Euroleague and no matter how great the efforts they will have to invest. As ONE first learned, Baldwin flew to Croatia to receive special treatments that will hopefully help speed up his recovery. The Yellows hope that this will help, but admit that the player is doubtful for the game that will be held at the legendary Pioneer. After the treatment, the Ketch guard will join the team already in Belgrade.
Josh Niebo’s response
Nivo is in the midst of a career season. The numbers, the contribution, the improvement graph, are all there and if that’s not enough, this is also a player with a great character. In the two previous meetings of the season against Matthias Lesort Nivvo was more dominant and in the series so far it seems that Ergin Ataman has found a way to minimize the damage that the Ketch big man has done to him so far, but yesterday something happened. Nibo, who, as mentioned, even if he is very competitive and wants to win very calmly, almost always ended the game with a suspension and if that wasn’t enough, the player who became one of the hottest names of the coming summer went down to the dressing room and didn’t look up for a moment. The disappointment, the anger, the frustration, they all seemed to be there. This time Nivo did not speak or be interviewed after the game and the look on his face when he made his way to the team bus was already different, and not only his but also that of all the members of the team – players, staff and in fact the entire delegation as well.
Josh Nieveau blocks Mathias Lessort (Andreas Papakonstantinou / Tourette Photography)
The commotion at the end of the game left the champion’s team in shock. Nevertheless, this time Maccabi Tel Aviv received a different treatment, different and especially one that no one from the club ever thought they would receive from the team of Dimitris Yanakopoulos. The ties, the long-standing relationship and the mutual respect all disappeared, evaporated into thin air for them when in Greece they say that even Oded Ketch, who coached the team from Athens, was cursed by the owners of the team, those who worked for him, and won a championship and a cup, received such treatment. Oded himself looked different after the game and he also seemed to take the game differently last night.
In the State of Israel, as well as throughout Europe and the United States, every time Ketch’s name comes up in a conversation with officials from the basketball world, it is likely that you will only hear good words. Yesterday, the yellow-green legend received treatment that has no place, also those who were present at the game also told about spitting at the team and the management, and the faces of all the club members and the feelings after the game were first and foremost shock. The evening was full of events from the beginning to the end when Ioannis Papapetrou, who was left to throw in the basket after the loss in the first game of the series, was the hero of the evening on and off the floor when he tried to calm the commotion and drama that developed in the locker room area. In addition to the Greek forward who tried together with representatives of Panathinaikos to return Mathias to Sort, Kostas Sloukas and Argin Atman, there were also representatives of Maccabi Tel Aviv who tried to calm the spirits.
Oded Ketch (Andreas Papakonstantinou / Tourette Photography)
The storm that had ended ended and the players one by one began to head towards the bus when a surprise awaited them and the team’s coach, the Gate organization that came to Athens was not present at the game, but came to the team’s bus area with the aim of encouraging the players who now look especially alert for the third game in the series. The fans also hugged Oded Ketch and gave him words of encouragement, when the coach let out a smile and gave the impression that everyone is ready and waiting for the jump ball of the third game in the series, which will be held on Tuesday at 20:00 Israel time. Last night’s game again provided great basketball, and left a taste for more for the rest, and in terms of the result at the end of the two yellow games, they admit that they did their part.
Lorenzo Brown He first addressed the commotion at the end of the game between the players on the floor and said: “I don’t really know. I think the young guy, Attokompo wanted to do some muscle, he could have just blocked the shot and went on his way, but he wanted to do some muscle, you know how things are These. I don’t think about this mess, but we have to back up our teammates and stand by him.”
Lorenzo Brown rises in color (Andreas Papakonstantinou / Tourette Photography)
You had a hard time without Wade, but Tamir raised the bar
“Wade is a big part of this team in terms of scoring, production and defense, but Tamir? I told him that in the game as well, he’s a piece of center. He makes great passes and hits big shots, that’s what he does best and I feel like he’s the right person to do the job “.
What happened at the end of the game, as a professional player, is it something that serves as fuel for the third game?
“Absolutely. The whole game will already fuel the next game, even the drills they did before this game, but we have to stay with our heads up, we can’t let anything get us down, nothing is going to be fair for both teams. The keys to winning both The next games are to keep calm and stay focused.”
Can Maccabi close the series in Belgrade?
“Yes, Maccabi can do 1:3 in Belgrade, we will have some fans there and I feel that our fans give us the extra push, they are the fuel for our fire. I know they are disappointed right now and so are we, so I am ready for the next two games.”
After the loss: Lorenzo Brown in an interview with ONE
