Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Partizan 97–84 in Euroleague Round 7, and coach Dimitris Itoudis spoke at the press conference.
To begin with, Dimitris Itoudis talked about the game and the preparation against Partizan:
“Congratulations to my team on another win and the way we played. We had several players in double figures. We realized that in the second half we had to play better as a team. In the first half, we made mistakes in offense and defense, and our ball movement wasn’t good. Of course, that wasn’t only on us, but also due to the defense Partizan played on Elijah Bryant and Vasilije Micic. We expected that. We practiced it in training, and our big men guarded them. Still, we didn’t get the space we wanted in the first half and scored 43 points.”
He then reflected on the second half and what Hapoel Tel Aviv changed compared to the first:
“The second half was a different story. We found offensive opportunities with better ball movement. We created space and punished the defense, and the fact that we outscored them 54–42 in the second half says a lot. Every game is a challenge for us, and this was one, as well as the way we won it. I think it’s very similar to the game against Monaco. The players from the bench contributed a lot,” said Dimitris Itoudis, adding:
“This is all thanks to the owners. We have a long way ahead, we know that. In two days, we play against a Final Four team and a contender for the trophy. I’m talking about Olympiacos. We accept the challenge and believe the outcome will be good for us. Thank you for cheering tonight. The fans from Israel, Bulgaria, and Partizan created an amazing atmosphere.”
When asked by Basketball Sphere journalists is Antonio Blakeney the best pure shooter he has ever coached and how to train such a player, the Greek coach responded:
“Thank you for mentioning that. He is an exceptional individual. He really loves what he does and works to improve other aspects of his game: pick-and-roll, creation, defense. He trains with coaches or teammates holding their hands in front of his face. These are shots not only he takes, but also players like Kevin Punter, Sterling Brown, Duane Washington, Nadir Hifi. We are happy he is with us. We call him ‘the microwave.’ Once he starts, you can’t stop him. His repertoire is extensive. He can create for others, rebound, and he is also one of the best shot blockers. He can block shots up to the ceiling. There are many elements he contributes to,” said Dimitris Itoudis, adding:
“This is his second year here, after a successful previous season in the EuroCup. He plays in an organized system where everything matters: the opponent, the score, the game momentum. He is currently processing all that and adding new elements to his game. He is also an excellent teammate.”
Hapoel Tel Aviv continues its dominant debut season in the Euroleague with a 6–1 record and sits alone in first place, while Partizan is at 4–3.
Only on Basketball Sphere can you follow free analyses and betting tips for all the top basketball competitions — including the:
This season, we’ve added a wide range of special betting features to our portal, such as:
A brand-new feature this year is our Numbers Game, tracking all the hottest trends in European basketball.
Up To 100 €/$ Welcome Bonus
Up To 100 €/$ Welcome Bonus
Up To 122 €/$ Welcome Bonus
Up To 122 €/$ Welcome Bonus
Up To 200 €/$ Welcome Bonus