Israel is actually a strange case. Their top club team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, is almost always a contender to win Euroleague. They've won multiple times and have come close several other times, so they're actually a big deal in Israel. The only catch is that their best players aren't from Israel and are generally imports from the US (Anthony Parker being the best example). So the Israeli national team tends to be pretty bad in comparison, although it is getting better. Scouting Maccabi Tel Aviv is a no brainer. The Raptors got away with robbery when they got Parker for 4 million when on the open market today he'd probably command more money. A lot of good players go in and out of that team. It's just that the national team is garbage.
Thanks. So, maybe this won't be a problem for Eliyahu. Although, IIRC, he may still have to serve his country for a year at some point. Does anyone know what the deal is with that? Not meaning to be he question king, sorry...
did anyone actually expect him to play this year? the best thing for him is to go back and continue to improve. he'll have a summer league again next season and i imagine a good chance of making the team.
It could like last season when the Rockets missed out on James so thet went after Spanoulis instead. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1183459198829&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Sort of like if you took a second job that conflicted with your real one. Your boss calls and tells you he needs you, you don't argue, you just go back to work. Hey, at least he came over unlike another Euro player on the team.
And we all know how THAT one worked out... I love VSpan because he's the single most contraversial Rocket since quitten. He's enormously overhyped, and so many people on this board chased the tasty carrot on a stick just like they wanted.
I hope he is given a program for increasing his strength and conditioning, if he has to play for Israel this year. Coming back next summer with 15 or 20 pounds of muscle would help him (and possibly the Rocks) a LOT. A bit of a nice surprise, if you ask me.
Doesn't he have to go to Israel anyway? Even if he did stay. He would be another Vspan. Pure undeveloped talent sitting on the bench.
Under JVG, yes. Under Adelman, maybe. That's why the summer league was so important for the coaching staff and for Eliyahu. I believe Adelman to be an upfront guy and would tell you if you're going to be significant here or not. He plays a larger rotation than JVG. Israel will likely get a more polished product back if they relented and let the poor kid develop over here for more than a week. Imagine what a full summer, even a full NBA season would do for his confidence when he plays back home? Honestly though, who cares anymore? I'm not pinning a prize on Eliyahu as a solution to our upcoming season anyhow.
