Hapoel Tel Aviv raises the roof at Drive-in Arena against Maccabi Tel Aviv

• Published date: 27 January 2023

The Reds have played top-level hoops from the start of the campaign and are not only a threat to win the domestic league this year but also have a legitimate chance of heading deep into the EuroCup postseason

With victories over Maccabi Tel Aviv – which moved Hapoel into first place in the Israeli league – and Turk Telekom Ankara to propel them into a second-place tie with the Turkish club in continental play, Danny Franco has his squad humming along and arguably playing the best basketball of the season.

The Reds clipped the yellow-and-blue by a point, 96-95, and then slipped by Turk 84-82 in what was certainly a real European double week if there ever was one as both opponents have deep, high-level squads as well as coaches who have experienced some of the highest of highs in Euroleague basketball.

In both of these encounters, Hapoel saw a number of players step up, including J'Covan Brown who fleeced Maccabi for 32 points, and Xavier Munford who did one better with 33 points while going 7-of-8 from deep in the win over Turk. But it wasn't just one player who helped the Reds in these tough battles, it was a number of players who stepped up when some players were out.

Munford, the MVP in the win over Turk, was exhausted but all smiles following the game.

"It was a must win and all week we had been preparing for Maccabi and this game based on the standings this was going to be a big game. We had players who were out and we had to raise the level of our play.

"It's a whole team feeling and I knew everybody was going to step up with guys out and everyone played and brought something to the table no matter how many minutes they played. Everyone gave it their all."

Whether it was Tomer Ginat, Chinanu Onuaku, Gil Beni and Jaylen Hoard - the games demonstrated just how critical a deep roster is when not only playing in two totally different competitions but also if you want to truly have a chance to make noise and have a real, legitimate chance to win them as well.

That is what is making this season truly so exciting. These victories aren't one-offs. They are the building blocks for something truly exemplary.

Franco's team came into the Turk EuroCup clash without three regulars – Jordan McRae, JP Tokoto and Idan Zalmanson – who were all unavailable due to illness. Add the fact that they were both mentally and physically exhausted from the win over Maccabi less than 48 hours prior, it would have all added up should they have not had the energy to compete against...