Both Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Zalgiris Kaunas will be hoping to get their seasons started on the right foot in their Round 1 clash on Thursday in Israel. Here are some keys to victory for both sides.
Keys to victory: Maccabi vs. Zalgiris
Article
3 Mins read
Maccabi must hold its own in the paint
One of the gambles Maccabi made on its roster this season was that its speed and athleticism would overcome opponents’ size. That will be put to the test by the likes of Laurynas Biruitas, Kevarrius Hayes, Rolands Smits and Tyler Cavanaugh. Josh Nebo, Alex Poythress and Roman Sorkin must hold their own against the bigger Zalgiris frontline and some bonus triples from power forward Jarell Martin could go a long way toward establishing its strengths in Round 1.
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Olympiacos Piraeus-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:39
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Levi Randolph: 'This shows the character of our team'
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 02:30
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Sylvain Francisco: 'I just can't wait for next season'
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Zalgiris Kaunas-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
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Smailagic throws it down in traffic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
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Birutis hammers home the alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/ef5799c3-50b4-4c70-b294-33bf62ebb034.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
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AS Monaco-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 31 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
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Wong finds Smailagic for the slam! Motorola Magic Moment
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FC Barcelona-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
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Dunston’s dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:18
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Rokas Jokubaitis: 'We play for pride and are doing an amazing job'
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 30 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
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Jimmy Clark we have take-off! Motorola Magic Moment
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EuroLeague 25 Moments: Maccabi and its magical run to the 2014 title
- 01:24
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Trevion Williams: 'We just want to keep our foot on the gas'
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-AS Monaco | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:33
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Francisco for the win! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 01:59
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Sylvain Francisco: 'I knew I was gonna make it!'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/005ea570-3a38-4dbf-8483-c9324e93d388.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-Paris Basketball | RS Round 29 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:07
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What a block by Isaiah Wong! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
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Williams dunks off a Clark dish! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
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Butkevicius and Birutis shine for Zalgiris! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:17
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Williams opens the game in style! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
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Smailagic denies at the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:19
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Levi Randolph: 'It's a testament to the team and our character'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b689ab33-691c-4f5c-a802-32a68089b382.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 28 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
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Clark does a steal & dunk play again! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:19
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Clark from deep to beat the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
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Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 28 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:53
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Roman Sorkin: 'A lot of guys stepped up'
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Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 27 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:59
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Alain Smailagic: 'We did everything that needed to be done to win'
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Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Zalgiris Kaunas | RS Round 27 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:11
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What a pass by Williams! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:14
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Sorkin beats the buzzer! Motorola Magic Moment
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EuroLeague & Friends returns with Rokas Jokubaitis as guest
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Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:21
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Rivero rejects Sedekerskis! Motorola Magic Moment
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Zalgiris Kaunas-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:24
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Walker’s circus bucket! Motorola Magic Moment
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FC Barcelona-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 25 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
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Williams finds Sorkin! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:42
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Bryant Dunston: 'Our defense has to be what we hold our hat on'
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Zalgiris Kaunas-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 25 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
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Dunston with a one-handed slam! Motorola Magic Moment
Disrupting the hosts’ backcourt could lift Zalgiris
Maccabi’s signing of Lorenzo Brown was meant to give the club a floor general who would help bring the team together and march it to success. However, Brown’s gold-medal run with the Spanish national team has meant that he has had less time to adjust to his new Maccabi teammates; Brown has taken part in just one preseason game for Maccabi.
Zalgiris has three experienced point guards who can pester Brown in Lukas Lekavicius, Mantas Kalnietis and Keenan Evans. Their ability to pressure Brown could disrupt Maccabi’s plans and that would help Zalgiris.