Quote:Zvika Sherf's hopes of marching Israel directly into next summer's EuroBasket in Poland suffered a hit this week.
On Tuesday, the national team coach announced the 17 players he wanted at the final training camp that's scheduled to tip off on July 23, yet it's uncertain if two of the invitees - Dror Hagag and Lior Eliyahu - will show up.
So what's the problem with the 22-year-old Eliyahu, whose NBA draft rights are held by the Houston Rockets?
The 2.07 Eliyahu and Sherf spent the last year together at Maccabi Tel Aviv and had an unhappy relationship.
The veteran coach clashed with the talented forward several times and often used him on the court only if he had no other option, and sometimes not even then.
That very scenario, in fact, had existed at last summer's EuroBasket in Spain with the national team.
As a result, it appears Eliyahu has decided not to show up for the national team camp. Although he has not made an official announcement, those are the vibes the player is sending out.
Hagag's situation is different.
The 30-year-old point guard, who only recently signed a two-year deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv where Sherf has been replaced as coach by Effi Birenboim, made his summer plans official.
"I sent a letter to the federation explaining that I won't be able to show up for the camp for personal reasons," Hagag said to the Israeli media.
"It has nothing to do with coach Sherf. I would have announced the same even if there was another coach. I just need to stay in Israel his summer."
Hagag's decision was neither received well by the federation, nor accepted.
"We see a call for the national team the same way as we see a call for the army reserves," said Shai Shani, the new chairman of the federation.
"I can't imagine a situation in which a player was invited but won't show up."
The federation had allowed the initial 32 players named in the preliminary squad to announce until a few days ago if they planned to miss the upcoming campaign.
Several, such as Sharon Shason, Erez Markovic, David Bluthenthal and Jaime Arnold, took the opportunity to do so and thus weren't invited to the final camp where Israel will prepare for qualifying games against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Czech Republic and Great Britain.
Israel's basketball fans will soon discover how the Hagag and Eliyahu situations are resolved.
Israel squad: Dror Hagag, Lior Eliyahu, Meir Tapiro, Moran Rot, Yogev Okhayon, Yotam Halperin, Tal Burstein, Raviv Limonad, Nitzan Khanokhi, Guy Pnini, Matan Naor, Omri Casspi, Yaniv Green, Ido Kozikaro, Amit Tamir, Chris Watson and Nir Cohen.
[url="http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_K8Sdo2vfH,oZoP9JbvjDi2.container_frontpage.articleMode_on.html"]http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_K8Sdo2vfH,o...cleMode_on.html[/url]
ow Rikadur <img src='http://www.talkbasket.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='
' />
Hamm NT managers are trying to make peace with Sherf and Lior. Hagag will propably won't join the NT, but the NT will get back Burstein, Tapiro will join again maybe for the last time in the NT and Caspi. I think this summer we'll have a very strong NT than in the last 5 years
Hey, can any of our Israeli friends tell us about Israel National Team for Eurobasket 2009? Who does Zvika Sherf want to take with him? Are there any thoughts on taking a naturalised player?
What do you think are the weak and strong points of your National Team?
i think Israel has good shance to go to next round. it is our target. we trust our coach and hope our players arise to the ocassion.
Let's make a short overview about how Israel NT is getting ready for the upcoming eurobasket.
first of all- the preliminary squad: Yotam Halperin (Olympiacos), Lior Eliyahu, Omri Casspi, Yaniv Green, Raviv Limonad, Tal Burstein (Maccabi), Guy Pnini (joining Maccabi this season), Ido Kozikaro, Moshe Mizrakhi (Haifa Heat), Yuval Naimi, Moran Rot (Hapoel Jerusalem)), Nitzan Khanokhi, Robert Rothbart, Yogev Okhayon (Nahariya), Yehu Orland, Uri Kukia (Hapoel Holon), Amit Tamir, Avi Ben Chimol (Ashkelon), Elishay Kadir, Nir Cohen, Matan Naor, Gal Mekel (Gilboa/Galil) and Yoni Nir (Givat Shmuel).
The first note is that in the last week all the NT training was cancelled due to a strike that the player's association took because there were problem's with the players insurance's. but that saga is already over and the NT started to practice.
Another important note is that the Israeli Vetran Meir Tapiro retired, Tapiro participetaed in the last 3-4 Eurobasket as Israel NT leader. in Israel it was said that all the NT is built on him. now at the age on 35 he is going to see the NT from the TV and get ready for the next season in Israel.
Israel won't take any naturalised player any time soon- first of all there aren't so many good naturalised player's in Israel (they are old or just not good enough) and secondly in the qualifier's Israel didn't used her naturalised player so taking him made a lot of criticism.
the last (but probably the most important) note is that Omri Casspi that got picked in the last draft by Sacramento is going to stay in the US adn get ready for his Rooky season instead of training with the NT and participating in the Eurobasket. Zvika Sherf, Israel NT coach, offered Casspi to join the NT just on 20/08 and just participating in the Eurobasket, Casspi is probably going to refuse.
Israel is going to face in the Eurobasket: Croatia, Greece and FYROM. In my opinion Israel has a great chance to even finish this group in the first place, most of the time's Israel worth more then expected from the NT. Croatia is a dangerous team but Israel beat them last Eurobasket and they have lot of weaknesses. FYROM isn't a bad team, but in my opinion Israel is better. and Greece is at weak time when Diamantidis and Papaloukas are out, Greece is better then Israel even now, but now is the chance.
I think the Israeli NT is one of the strongest NT we ever had (espcially if Casspi will join). Halperin and Eliyahu are now European stars (last Eurobasket they were in totaly difrrent statues), Yaniv Green is allways great on Eurobasket's and Tal Burstien want to get a big contract for next year and this Eurobasket is his Chance as the Israli Captian. in addition there are lot of promising young players : Limonad, Mekel and Rothbart.
I think that Israel will probably will try to set a fast pace game with a lot of work from the 2 forward position's (where Israel has some power), and if Casspi in the end will get to the Eurobasket this game plan may even work...
to see Casspi and Eliyahu in a fast pace game can be a beautiful sight...
Any Israeli friend knows the final 12-men list for Eurobasket?
Tal Burstein (G), Gal Mekel (G), Yotam Halperin (G), Yuval Naimi (G), Raviv Limonad (G), Moran Rot (G), Guy Pnini (F), Lior Eliyahu (F), Moshe Mizrahi (F), Yaniv Green (F/C), Ido Kujikaro (F/C), Amit Tamir (F/C)
Yogev Ohayon was forced to stay in Israel to to an injury.