Maccabi's coach David Blatt is well convinced that the team, which feels the pressure is not mentally prepared and therefore as a hosting team Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv should not feel it. On the day before the final with Cedevita he spoke about this season, about the only game left in the ABA League and about the future. Click here to see the video.
How do you see your opponent in the final?
Cedevita is offensively a tremendous team with many weapons. It is generally a team that has the inside game and is able to facilitate the outside game. Without question they play a very good basketball, they were the toughest opponent we played in the ABA league this year. Together with us they had the best performance throughout the season. Games we played against each other were close matches and it should be a great challenge tomorrow.
How would you compare this season to the previous one?
This year we've proven to be I can't say stronger because we won't faced with the same kind of physical challenge that we had last year. We played in three league's this year, we played over 80 games, we won 68 of them, that's quite a record - an NBA schedule - and we have a 84-85 winning percentage. From the mental stand point this team is proving to be strong. But we had more talent last year, we had the ability to do more things on the court because of our athleticism and all around the court we’ve had many different players that we don't have this year. But this group has done a fantastic job in a very difficult season and I'd be happy to go to the battle with any of these teams.
What gave you playing the ABA League?
I am a big fan of the Adriatic league, there are well coached teams , a lot of good players, great brand of basketball, many offensives sets with thought and purposes behind them, the ability to play and to challenge the principles of the other teams on any given night, competitive atmosphere, but great fans that appreciate basketball. Adriatic League really helped us this season, it made us stronger and better team and we approached these games with all the respect and the desire we could and it was a good experience.
Maccabi had a great season in ABA League but also a very exhausting rhythm. How do you see this in the future?
We are all gonna see at the end of the year just what administratively takes place. I really think that under the current system it is gonna be difficult for Maccabi to play in three leagues agains, because the Euroleague is now added eight games for the next season. So physically I don't know how you do it unless we could get to the point that you see in many of Adriatic local leagues, so that we could join the Israeli league later or we could skip the season in the Israeli league. But this is maybe the less likely of the two scenarios. But under those circumstances I would be happy and the club would be happy too to continue.
What will decided the final?
I think shooting percentages are gonna be very, very important and the team that knows how to play the game and not the occasion is gonna have a big mental advantage.
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