Kori Ellis
10-07-2006, 04:00 PM
http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/1388/180/the-buzz-maccabi-elite-vs-san-antonio-spurs
Maccabi Elite vs. San Antonio Spurs
Everything is ready for a big showdown at the Palais Onmisports of Paris-Bercy between Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and the San Antonio Spurs. The French capital is already mobbed by Maccabi fans, but the atmopshere is way different from a Euroleague Final Four. The weather is not good in rainy Paris, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed in the Maccabi headquarters. Beating a NBA team is something unique for any European team, but Maccabi Elite has been there several times, from its first win against the Washington Bullets back in 1978, to its last in Toronto last autumn against the Raptors.
"It's always a challenge to play against NBA teams, but we showed last year that we can give them a fight and also win," Maccabi center Nikola Vujcic said after a Thursday friendly game in which his team thrashed Climamio 93-67 behind 22 points from newcomer Simas Jasaitis. "The fact they come and play here their pre-season game shows how much progress European basketball has made. It makes no difference to me who I'm playing against. In Maccabi you learn that every game is important. It's a good practice for us."
Unfortunately, Maccabi could not practice as planned on Friday night at Bercy, because when the team arrived to the arena with its sizable media corps in tow, there were no basketballs to be found anywhere.
Vujcic, an All-Euroleague first team selection last season, is as motivated as Yotam Halperin, who comes off a great season with Union Olimpija and turned down NBA offers to return to Maccabi.
"I wasn't with Maccabi on the team that beat the Raptors last year, so now is a chance for me to join the long list of Maccabi players that beat an NBA team, and I'm really excited about the opportunity," Halperin said. "I had a chance to play for an NBA team this season, but I chose to stay with the team I grew up in and I love so much. We will come focused and hope to get better and better until the first tip off in the Euroleague, because this is basically the reason for these pre-season games - to make the team play better in the real games."
Those Maccabi fans who are expected to see a familiar face in the opponent team will be disappointed, since Beno Udrih is out due to a armstring injury. Udrih played for Maccabi in the 2002-03 season.
"I wish I could play against my former team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, but I didn't recover in time. I know Maccabi fans, so I can guess what we will expect," Udrih said. "Everybody thinks this is a friendly game, but it is not like that for any of us. We are getting ready for the season, trying to get our confidence back and Maccabi wants the same."
Maccabi's new head coach Neven Spahija said the game is special to him for a couple of reasons.
"It is the first time I coach against a NBA team, and the game is against the San Antonio Spurs, which is a team I am in very good relationship with," Spahija said. "I was assistant coach in their summer league team, so playing against them is special. They know me very well, and I know them."
He and Maccabi will not any friends when they get to the court, in which hundreds of Yellow fans will be ready to take their team higher, just as usual. Maccabi won the SuproLeague title in 2001 at the OmniSports and even a newcomer like Lior Eliyahu recalls that win.
"I know this arena means something very special for this club, because in 2001 Maccabi won the Suproleague here," Eliyahu said. "I hope against the Spurs I'll be able to help the team to add one more great victory to the list."
Only three players stay in the team for that winning squad - injured guard Tal Burstein, little-used Regev Fanan and the everlasting Derrick Sharp.
"We already played against NBA clubs last year, so for many guys this isn't a new experience, but it's always exciting to play games at such a level," forward Sharon Shason said. "I hope we'll have many fans here who will push us, and make it feel like home."
With a big group of Maccabi fans in the standings, that's guaranteed.
Maccabi Elite vs. San Antonio Spurs
Everything is ready for a big showdown at the Palais Onmisports of Paris-Bercy between Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv and the San Antonio Spurs. The French capital is already mobbed by Maccabi fans, but the atmopshere is way different from a Euroleague Final Four. The weather is not good in rainy Paris, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed in the Maccabi headquarters. Beating a NBA team is something unique for any European team, but Maccabi Elite has been there several times, from its first win against the Washington Bullets back in 1978, to its last in Toronto last autumn against the Raptors.
"It's always a challenge to play against NBA teams, but we showed last year that we can give them a fight and also win," Maccabi center Nikola Vujcic said after a Thursday friendly game in which his team thrashed Climamio 93-67 behind 22 points from newcomer Simas Jasaitis. "The fact they come and play here their pre-season game shows how much progress European basketball has made. It makes no difference to me who I'm playing against. In Maccabi you learn that every game is important. It's a good practice for us."
Unfortunately, Maccabi could not practice as planned on Friday night at Bercy, because when the team arrived to the arena with its sizable media corps in tow, there were no basketballs to be found anywhere.
Vujcic, an All-Euroleague first team selection last season, is as motivated as Yotam Halperin, who comes off a great season with Union Olimpija and turned down NBA offers to return to Maccabi.
"I wasn't with Maccabi on the team that beat the Raptors last year, so now is a chance for me to join the long list of Maccabi players that beat an NBA team, and I'm really excited about the opportunity," Halperin said. "I had a chance to play for an NBA team this season, but I chose to stay with the team I grew up in and I love so much. We will come focused and hope to get better and better until the first tip off in the Euroleague, because this is basically the reason for these pre-season games - to make the team play better in the real games."
Those Maccabi fans who are expected to see a familiar face in the opponent team will be disappointed, since Beno Udrih is out due to a armstring injury. Udrih played for Maccabi in the 2002-03 season.
"I wish I could play against my former team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, but I didn't recover in time. I know Maccabi fans, so I can guess what we will expect," Udrih said. "Everybody thinks this is a friendly game, but it is not like that for any of us. We are getting ready for the season, trying to get our confidence back and Maccabi wants the same."
Maccabi's new head coach Neven Spahija said the game is special to him for a couple of reasons.
"It is the first time I coach against a NBA team, and the game is against the San Antonio Spurs, which is a team I am in very good relationship with," Spahija said. "I was assistant coach in their summer league team, so playing against them is special. They know me very well, and I know them."
He and Maccabi will not any friends when they get to the court, in which hundreds of Yellow fans will be ready to take their team higher, just as usual. Maccabi won the SuproLeague title in 2001 at the OmniSports and even a newcomer like Lior Eliyahu recalls that win.
"I know this arena means something very special for this club, because in 2001 Maccabi won the Suproleague here," Eliyahu said. "I hope against the Spurs I'll be able to help the team to add one more great victory to the list."
Only three players stay in the team for that winning squad - injured guard Tal Burstein, little-used Regev Fanan and the everlasting Derrick Sharp.
"We already played against NBA clubs last year, so for many guys this isn't a new experience, but it's always exciting to play games at such a level," forward Sharon Shason said. "I hope we'll have many fans here who will push us, and make it feel like home."
With a big group of Maccabi fans in the standings, that's guaranteed.