Hapoel Tel Aviv is ready for its premiere season in the 7DAYS EuroCup. The excitement is great in and around the club, which will participate in the group stage of a European competition for the first time since 2005. Hapoel's journey through Group B will have some very interesting games. Here are a few to pay attention to.
2022-23 Games to Watch: Hapoel Tel Aviv
Round 1: A double debut
Hapoel's EuroCup debut will come on its home floor against another newcomer to the competition, London Lions. It will be a historic occasion for both that the hosts from Tel Aviv, especially, would love to celebrate with a victory that could well be worth its weight in gold down the road in Group B. Head coach Danny Franco and his team will understand well the opportunity of the moment. Expect Hapoel to be ready for anything and its devoted fans to make their presence felt, too.
Round 5: The longest road trip
A Round 5 tilt at Gran Canaria will be Hapoel's third road game of the season and yet another against a club it has never met before. But this game will be unique in another way. Not only does Gran Canaria possess loads of experience in the competition, but a long trip - the longest trip of the season – presents a challenge in itself. It will be interesting to see how well the newcomers respond in those circumstances.
Round 11: Paris comes to town
Hapoel plays five of its last eight games at home, with the first game of that stretch coming against another fellow newcomer, Paris Basketball. It will also be Hapoel's first Group B home game of 2023. For all those reasons, on paper and before the season starts, this has the feel of a must-win game. Hapoel star forward Tomer Ginat knows a thing or two about Paris, having spent the last two years in the French capital playing for a local rival in Boulogne. It will surely be important for Hapoel to win games at home and victory in this one would go a long way in the playoff race.
Round 16: Facing the stretch run
When it comes to battling for playoff spots and securing a better seeding, it is important to play well and win down the final stretch of the regular season in March. A Round 16 home game against Hamburg Towers could very well be a game that determines the direction of that race – for both teams. Hamburg has learned a few things while reaching the elimination rounds in its first EuroCup season. Hapoel has the same goal, which should make this an entertaining game.