http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/742256.html Lior Eliyahu Update Houston, we have a problem By Yoav Borowitz Lior Eliyahu's decision to sign last summer with Maccabi Tel Aviv was a reflex reaction. All young, talented Israeli players end up playing for the perennial league champion and, after three years with Hapoel Galil Elyon, it was clear that Eliyahu was ready for a step up to the big time. But did the talented Mr. Eliyahu join the right team? Eliyahu's new team is far from being a hothouse for nurturing young talents. Many promising Israelis have been left bleeding on the altar of money and fleeting glory. Eliyahu makes a valiant effort to convince himself that for him, things will be different. Advertisement "Obviously there is some concern," he says, "like any athlete. But I am joining Maccabi in order to play, rather than to be stuck on the bench." According to Hanoch Mintz, Eliyahu's personal trainer and the coach who discovered him at the age of 9, the onus is on Maccabi to prove that it intends to nurture Eliyahu's talent. "In a few weeks, when Maccabi's roster is completed, Lior and I will sit with Shimon Mizrahi and see where he fits into Maccabi's plans. If we see that his is not high on their list of priorities, or that there are too many players in the same position, we will ask to move to a different team." Eliyahu signed with Maccabi before the Houston Rockets selected him 44th in the NBA draft. The team from Texas will no doubt send scouts to Yad Eliyahu many times this season. And when they are there, Eliyahu would be well advised to provide the goods. Draft resolution "This whole arrangement is good for Houston and less good for Lior," says Mintz. "Had he waited another year, he could have been picked higher up in the draft." Eliyahu, on the other hand, was pleased with the draft, but realizes that he will have to continue to impress. "I know it won't be easy," he says, "it may even be very difficult. But I am delighted to be part of the best team in Europe." And therein lies the danger. Eliyahu would have gotten more minutes on court had he joined a smaller Euroleague team. What will he gain by playing for one of the continent's top teams? "It's too early to tell whether Maccabi is good or bad for Lior," says Mintz, "Lior's progress ground to a halt last season, because things at Galil Elyon were not working properly. The Galilee was a place for parties, drinking and casinos. They hardly ever went to the gym." Assuming that Eliyahu spends the next year of his life in the Maccabi gym, will he be able to garner enough minutes on court and averages to impress an NBA team? "He cannot, under any circumstances, think about the NBA," insists Mintz. "He has to think about how he can become unstoppable." Those who know Eliyahu say that he dreams day and night about David Stern and the best league in the world. If he wants to get there, Eliyahu should familiarize himself with the story of a Greek guard who was last week given a contract by the Houston Rockets. Vassilis Spanoulis was picked 50th in the 2004 draft. He was 22 at the time, and decided to stay another year with his team at the time - Maroussi. Last summer, he moved up to a bigger team - Panathinaikos. The season, he averaged 15.5 points and 3.1 assists in 23 games of European play, putting him in the Euroleague's second five. If Eliyahu wants to reach Houston, he will have to prove he's an Israeli Spanoulis. In the meantime, he finds himself competing for a place in Maccabi Tel Aviv's second five.
I like what I've read so far about him. Looks like he's a Toni Kukoc-type player: someone who can play the 3 early in his career and flourish and then switch to the floor as he ages and still contribute. I expect him to come over in 2 years and take Juwan's and Ryan Bowen's spots.
I care. Good read. It's interesting to know what Eliyahu faces. It's not just about basketball. It's got life mixed in there too.
Houston, we have a problem? Brilliant! It was a line from Apollo 13, and now he's using it because we have a PROBLEM in HOUSTON. I've never heard that one before. That is High-Freaking-Larry-Us. I'm going to have to call my friends and tell them that one. Houston, we have a NEW JOKE! So funny.
Haha, I have no idea. I check this board everyday but I have never heard of him until today. He is totally under the radar
I care very much about Lior. It all started for me after we drafted him and I went around looking for reports on him and almost everything I have read points to a potential key contributor almost in the form of Toni Kukoc or even Tokuglou [Turkeyglue]. I am psyched about what he could become over the next 2 years. They say his shooting form is not very natural or fluid but that has not necessarily stop Shawn Marion or Desmond Mason. I hope he fulfills his promise. Has any Israeli made it to the NBA before now?
I read one of the draft grade reports a few weeks ago and a scout(I think it was...memory fuzzy) mentioned this didn't make sense for the Rockets since Eliyahu was the second best Israeli prospect at that position and the best prospect was still available.... ...wish I could remember if that was an ESPN chat wrap or somewhere off "draft express"...
Never We had a second rounder, but Maccabi didn't release him. Eliyau in contrast will have a cheap buyout option. About the article, Maccabi has a new coach now ,who is known for developing young talents. The team isn't strong as it was for the last three years and it seems that after Parker went to Toronto there is a nice chance for Eliyau to gain minutes.I think he will be a project. Anyway I will bring you info about his game and development and I will E-mail someone I know from the Maccabi's fan site group and ask him if he could send me videos of the guy's highlights if he will have any ( once in a while they always create an highlight video of the team so even if he refuge's there is still a chance that I will bring something) . It isn't going to be the same case with V-Span. If he does something you will read and even watch that and if he won't you will know about that fast.
Thanks Barak. We will certainly appreciate it. Now lets go get him a nickname fast so that he will know how much we wants him EliYahoo? SearchEngine? Let me stop before it gets ridiculous. Where is DoD and Deuce when you need them?
