Hapoel Tel Aviv lost to Maccabi for the second time in just a few days, and Dimitris Itoudis is facing harsh criticism.
The Greek coach walked out of the press conference in a huff. “It was a close game. For no apparent reason, we lacked energy at the start of the game. We turned that around drastically in the third quarter; we played better defense, but our 18 turnovers and our very low three-point shooting percentage cost us. At the end, there was a disruptive foul; I won’t get into that. We’re moving on to the next game,” he said initially.
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When asked to comment on the fact that Tomer Ginat was the first player born in Israel to play in the EuroLeague this season, he became irritated and walked away after his response: “The team has 12 players, not just Tomer Ginat. Along with Tomer Ginat, I registered 11 other players. The team has 12 players; that’s what we’re allowed to do. I decided that this was the right move for this particular game. I think you consider me a smart person. Everyone has the right to be registered. Do you want to make an issue out of this? Go ahead, make an issue of it.”
According to Israeli media, Itoudis was furious after the game, slamming the locker room door. As reported, there is dissatisfaction within management regarding the team’s performance. “We haven’t played basketball in a month. We’re in a crisis,” someone said, though it wasn’t clear who. The team’s majority shareholder, Ofer Yanai, continues to support him, however, unlike the president and CEO, Stav Saham.
With Hapoel having suffered four consecutive losses, the upcoming games will be crucial for Dimitris Itoudis’s future as head coach.
*photo source: KYPE
