Crucial German duel for Goodes, Mac TA

Another win over Bamberg on Thursday could help Goodes keep his job for at least another week.

By ALLON SINAI
Updated: NOVEMBER 5, 2015 15:13
Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Guy Goodes (photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Guy Goodes
(photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
With discord within the ownership all that stood between Guy Goodes and the unemployment office, the Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach aims to prove he deserves to hold on to his job when the yellow- and-blue visits Brose Baskets Bamberg in Euroleague action in Germany on Thursday night.
Goodes’s hours, not to mention days, at the club looked to be numbered after the side opened a Euroleague campaign at 0-2 for the first time in 17 years before dropping to a humbling BSL defeat to Hapoel Jerusalem at Yad Eliyahu Arena.
However, with the different factions in the team’s ownership failing to agree on the identity of Goodes’s replacement, the coach has remained at the helm for the time being, guiding the team to a 79-63 win over Dinamo Basket Sassari of Italy in Euroleague action last week before also overcoming Hapoel Holon in the BSL on Sunday night.
Another win over Bamberg on Thursday could help Goodes keep his job for at least another week, but he knows he may well be forced to watch next week’s contest against Darussafaka Istanbul from home should Maccabi fall to 1-3, putting in doubt its progress to the Top 16.
Bamberg also enters Thursday with a 1-2 record, suffering tight defeats on the road to Unicaja Malaga and CSKA Moscow while beating Darussafaka at home.
“Bamberg is in great form lately.
We saw their game against CSKA, and they still had a chance to win with a minute and a half left in the game. This is going to be a tough fight for both teams, because the game is important to both teams,” said Goodes. “We’ll have to be very physical every minute of the game, and we can’t make any mistakes.
We’ll need to play defense like we did in our last two games, and be together for the full 40 minutes.
Every win gives the entire system calm and confidence and I feel that the players are more relaxed and attentive. We have been through a shock but I believe we have steadied the ship.”