Double trip starts at Tel Aviv

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

Two meetings with Tel Aviv side in previous years were unsuccessful for the Army Team. In the golden 2018-19 season, in January of 2019, Maccabi won in Moscow for the first time since 2004, after nine defeats in a row. Last season, the rivals managed to meet only once, and CSKA lost on the road. Only last autumn, in a difficult game, the Red-Blues broke a series of defeats.

After the battle with Olympiacos, the Muscovites had a weekend free from games. The team spent the time preparing for the double week and recovering from injuries. This was especially important taking into account the schedule: the Army Team went on a double trip: after Tel Aviv, CSKA will have a visit Efes in Istanbul.

The good news is that the ranks of the Red-Blues are growing stronger. Dani Hackett, who recovered from an ankle injury, joined the team that participated in the trip to Greece.

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

Maccabi is chasing the spot among the playoff teams. They are a very energetic team, they depend a lot on the open court, they force turnovers with switching defense or playing big ball, they try to put pressure on you. It is always difficult at Tel Aviv. But we have all components and the mindset to go there, play good game and try to win.

Micheal Eric, CSKA center:

It will be another good and challenging chance for us to prove ourselves that we have a good team. On this travel we have a double week so we gotta prepare for one game at a time.

“RELATIVITY” CONNECTIONS

Maccabi center Othello Hunter played at CSKA Moscow for two seasons between 2017 and 2019. He helped the team win the 2019 EuroLeague title.

Will Clyburn and Maccabi’s Scottie Wilbekin and Ante Zizic were teammates at Darussafaka Istanbul during the 2016-17 season. They helped the team reach the EuroLeague Playoffs.

Wilbekin and Micheal Eric were teammates at Darussafaka Istanbul during the 2017-18 season. They helped the team win the EuroCup title together.

Nikola Milutinov played under current Maccabi head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos during his tenure with Olympiacos, for three seasons from 2015 to 2018. They reached the 2017 championship game together.

Janis Strelnieks played under Coach Sfairopoulos during the 2017-18 season at Olympiacos Piraeus.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Twelve different players have appeared in CSKA's starting lineups so far this season. Only Nikita Kurbanov has started every game.

Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 17 straight and 42 of his last 43 games. He ranks second this season with 2.7 three-point shots made per game.

James has scored in double figures in 17 straight and 47 of his last 48 games. He leads the EuroLeague in scoring this season with 20.5 points per game. Mike James is in 14th place all-time with 2,625 points. Alexey Shved of Khimki Moscow Region is in 13th place with 2,655.

James ranks sixth this season with 5.8 assists per game.

James has posted a PIR of at least 16 in 14 of his last 15 games. Mike James is the league leader this season in average PIR with 20.9 per game; Nikola Milutinov is sixth with 17.9 per game.

Toko Shengelia has posted a PIR in double figures in nine of his last 10 games.

Michael Eric needs 18 points to reach 500 for his career.

Semen Antonov needs 21 points to reach 500 for his career.

PAST MATCHUPS

Taking into account three technical defeats suffered in 70s due to political situation, CSKA prevailed in 26 games out of 46.

1974-75 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: (CSKA technical defeat)
1974-75 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: (CSKA technical defeat)
1976-77 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 79-91 (-12)
1976-77 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: (CSKA technical defeat)
1980-81 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 83-81 (+2)
1980-81 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 85-74 (-11)
1982-83 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-84 (-4)
1982-83 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 69-78 (+9)
1984-85 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 81-87 (-6)
1984-85 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 67-79 (+12)
1988-89 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: CSKA – Maccabi: 92-97 (-5)
1988-89 – European Champions’ Cup. Group stage: Maccabi – CSKA: 94-90 (-4)
1994-95 – European Championship for Club Teams. Semifinal Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 87-78 (+9)
1994-95 – European Championship for Club Teams. Semifinal Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 92-89 ОТ (-3)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 89-80 (+9)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 77-78 (+1)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: CSKA – Maccabi: 71-63 (+8)
1997-98 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: Maccabi – CSKA: 87-69 (-18)
2000-01 – Suproleague. Semifinal: Maccabi – CSKA: 86-80 (-6)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: Maccabi – CSKA: 69-68 (-1)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Maccabi: 81-77 (+4)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 84-87 (+3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-83 (-3)
2003-04 – Euroleague. Semifinal: Maccabi – CSKA: 93-85 (-8)
2005-06 – Euroleague. Final: CSKA – Maccabi: 73-69 (+4)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Maccabi: 80-58 (+22)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: Maccabi – CSKA: 68-56 (-12)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Quarterfinals: CSKA – Maccabi: 92-71 (+21)
2007-08 – Euroleague. Final: Maccabi – CSKA: 77-91 (+14)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 71-54 (-17)
2009-10 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 77-72 (+5)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Top 16: CSKA – Maccabi: 100-65 (+35)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Top 16: Maccabi – CSKA: 76-81 (+5)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Semifinal: CSKA – Maccabi: 67-68 (-1)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 99-80 (+18)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 61-84 (+23)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 100-69 (+31)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 82-88 (+6)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 76-80 (+4)
2016-17 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 93-81 (+12)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 101-86 (+15)
2017-18 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 73-93 (+20)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 86-89 (+3)
2018-19 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 76-93 (-17)
2019-20 – Euroleague. Regular season: Maccabi – CSKA: 90-80 (-10)
2020-21 – Euroleague. Regular season: CSKA – Maccabi: 76-72 (+4)

SHORT DOSSIER

Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel
Founded: 1932
Colors: yellow, blue
Home court: Menora Mivtachim Arena (11,000)
President: Shimon Mizrahi
Head coach: Giannis Sfairopoulos
Website: www.maccabi.co.il
Trophy case: 5-time Euroleague champion (1977, 81, 2004, 05, 14), Suproleague champion (2001), Adriatic League champion (2012), Intercontinental Cup winner (1980), Israeli champion (1954, 55, 57-59, 62-64, 67, 68, 70-92, 94-2007, 09, 11, 12, 14, 18-20), Israeli Cup winner (1956, 58, 59, 61, 63-66, 70-73, 75, 77-83, 85-87, 89-91, 94, 98-2006, 10-17)