Team Focus: Maccabi Electra

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has been one of the most dominant teams in basketball over the past decade, but despite seven Final Fours and three European titles in that span, the Israeli powerhouse is changing directions this season. Head coach Efy Birenboim is taking over a squad that returns only one starter from last season’s Euroleague title game, but the goal at Maccabi remains the same: to challenge for the top prize. In addition to rising star Omri Casspi and multiple-time Euroleague winners Derrick Sharp and Tal Burstein, Lior Eliyahu and Esteban Batista are also back from last season. Moreover the club has inked six newcomers – guards Carlos Arroyo and Dror Hagag, swingmen Tre Simmons and Jason Williams, forward Rodney White and big man D'or Fischer – and brought back center Yaniv Green from a year elsewhere. Birenboim will look to mold the group of talents into a cohesive unit that will follow in the club’s tradition and make noise from opening night until the Final Four in May.

Arroyo was brought in to become the team’s floor leader. A dynamic point guard with explosive scoring skills, Arroyo also has past Euroleague experience that should help him find his way with his new team quickly. His backup will be the experienced Hagag, a pesky defender and experienced ball-handler who can hit the open three as well. Team captain Sharp seems to get better with age. One of the competition’s all-time best three-point shooters, he also brings the leadership and defensive toughness that makes Maccabi a winner. Burstein looks to finally be back at full speed after several injury-plagued years. His all-around skills see him make an impact as a ball-handler, passer, scorer and rebounder. Simmons brings his scoring to the Euroleague for the first time after helping his last team stun Maccabi for the Israeli League title last season. Simmons’s ability to create his own shot is a valuable skill in close games. Williams is also a Euroleague rookie. He is a tough defender and a blue collar player that can’t be overlooked on offense either.

Casspi is a star-in-the making at small forward who is a preseason candidate for the Rising Star Award. His mental toughness and quickness combined with his defense and desire to crash the boards are all things that can spark Maccabi. Eliyahu looks to bounce back from a poor sophomore season using his size and speed to dominate opposing power forwards. White is a physical forward with uncanny scoring skills, while Fischer has the makings of a true intimidator on defense, whose size and leaping ability could translate into eye-popping rebounds and blocks. The bruising Batista brings an aggressive style to the center position that not only brings points and rebounds, but energizes the crowd. Green is back with Maccabi as a top-notch rebounder hungry to establish his place among the best.

With 12 established players on the roster, Maccabi may have its deepest roster ever and coach Birenboim will have the choices to mix and matchup lineups to go big or small, attacking or defensive or anything in between. The creative coach has a knack for inspiring his players, but that may not be needed much as eight players are in their first or second Euroleague season and they will all be hungry for success. With the backing of the fiery sell-out crowds at Nokia Arena, there is every reason to see Maccabi back battling for another ticket to the Final Four.