Kattash relieved after Maccabi overcame shooting problems, expects a new addition / News - Basketnews.com

Following Maccabi's win over Partizan, coach Oded Kattash referred to his team's bad percentages and the player that the club is looking to sign.

Credit: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv Credit Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv once again managed to defend their home court. The Israeli powerhouse presented a dominant game and beat Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 90-81, improving their balance to 10-8 and climbing back to the top eight in the table.

Player of the Game EFF 21 Jarell Martin Points 13 Accuracy 5-7 Rebounds 5 Assists 3

Lorenzo Brown scored 21 points and Bonzie Colson backed him up with 19. On Friday, Maccabi will lock horns with Panathinaikos in another tough EuroLeague match.

"If we had had better shooting percentages, the margin would have been much bigger," stated coach Oded Kattash at the press conference after the game.

"I told the players at halftime to keep shooting and play the right way. You can't control shooting percentages, I liked the way we played," the Israeli coach stressed.

Kattash was happy that Maccabi beat a potential playoff contender by 9 points, after losing by 8 in the first round. In the case of a tie, the Israeli side will have the upper hand.

"In almost every game, we will look at the point difference, you never know what will happen. One single point can be decisive," he noted.

"Partizan is a team that has 5-6 players who play with a lot of energy and aggressiveness. The first key was to match their energy level, and even more. Even if we committed a lot of fouls and they went more to the line, our message got through," added the Maccabi coach.

Since Maccabi lost Alex Poythress with an injury (torn wrist ligament) that can potentially cost him the rest of the season, the team is out on the market in search of a big man. The club later officially confirmed the information. Dragan Bender's name came up at one point, but the Croatian forward-center was injured and his case didn't go further.

"I already said that we are looking for, need, and want a player. I hope we find the right player for us. The entire organization has been mobilized. Compared to the other EuroLeague teams, we are lagging behind in that part," Kattash pointed out.

Lorenzo Brown, the team's undisputable leader this season, said Maccabi want to finish in the top five when all is said and done.

"That's our main goal," he underlined. This is a fight and we will continue to fight together until the end."

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