Maccabi Haifa B.C.

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Maccabi Hunter Haifa
Maccabi Hunter Haifa logo
LeaguesIsraeli Premier League
Founded1953; 71 years ago (1953)
HistoryMaccabi Haifa B.C.
1953–present
ArenaRomema Arena
Capacity5,000
LocationHaifa, Israel
Team colorsGreen, White
   
PresidentJeff Rosen
Head coachOffer Rahimi
Team captainOz Blayzer
OwnershipJeff Rosen
Championships1 Israeli League
Websitemhbasket.co.il

Maccabi Haifa Basketball Club (Hebrew: מכבי חיפה), for sponsorship reasons Maccabi Hunter Haifa, is a professional Israeli basketball club that belongs to the Maccabi Haifa association. They play in Ligat HaAl, the top division of Israeli basketball. The club won their first championship in 2013, beating perennial champions Maccabi Tel Aviv in the final Game.

History

Maccabi Haifa is one of the oldest basketball teams in Israel and is one of the original eight teams that formed the top division in 1953.[1] In 1971 and 1985, the club qualified for the State Cup finals losing to Maccabi Tel Aviv in both years.

The club was relegated to the second division in 1993, and dropped into the third tier in 1995. They returned to the top tier, Ligat HaAl, in 1999. Despite their recent success, in 2000, Haifa mayor Amram Mitzna merged the club with Hapoel Haifa to form BC Haifa.[1]

Although the club qualified for the playoffs twice, they began to experience financial difficulties. Upon relegation the club folded and sold its rights to Bnei HaSharon. In 2004 Maccabi Haifa officials changed the name of the second team under its control, Maccabi Bat Galim, to Maccabi Haifa in an effort to restore the club's glory days.[2]

The following season, the club was promoted to the northern division. In 2007 they were promoted to Liga Leumit under the leadership of the coach Tobi Slilat. After the club was promoted, Avi Ashkenazi (who had coached the team in 1995) was reappointed.

Maccabi Haifa In European competitions

Season Competitions Results
1971/72 FIBA Saporta Cup First qualifying round
1985/86 FIBA Saporta Cup First round
1987/88 FIBA Korać Cup Second qualifying round
1992/93 FIBA Korać Cup Round of 64
1999/00 FIBA Korać Cup Round of 32
2010/11 FIBA EuroChallenge Top 16
2013/14 Eurocup Basketball Last 32

Season summaries

2007–08 season

Prior to the 2007–08 season, in July 2007, the team was purchased by Jeffrey Rosen.

Rosen pledged that the club would be promoted to Ligat HaAl in his first year of ownership. In order to accomplish this, Deon Thomas, a former player at Maccabi Tel Aviv, was signed to play for the club. Additionally Rosen changed the team changed its name to Maccabi Haifa Heat from Maccabi Bat Galim.

In the 2007–08 season they finished in fourth place in Liga Leumit, and earned promotion after winning the best-of-five semi-finals, 3–1, against first seed Maccabi Elitzur Netanya.

2008–09 season

The 2008–09 Israeli Basketball Super League season marked the first year in which the Maccabi Haifa Heat played in the Israeli Premier League's top division under American owner Jeff Rosen. Prior to entering their 2008–09 season Maccabi Haifa had not played in the league's top division (also known as "The Super League") since 1999. Before the season began the team signed a multitude of talent to its roster which immediately took notice from around the league.

Notable pre-season signings included:

  • Davon Jefferson, who played at University of Southern California with current NBA player O. J. Mayo
  • Tamir Goodman, dubbed the "Jewish Jordan" by Sports Illustrated
  • Todd Golden, a star guard out of St. Mary's College of California, who was named to the 2008 All-America First Team by Jewish Sports Review
  • Ben Strong, the 6-foot, 11-inch center and former Division III Player of the Year out of Guilford College. Strong was the first Native American basketball player to play professionally in Israel
  • BJ McKie (All-Time leading scorer at University of South Carolina), Brooks Sales (Villanova), and Doron Perkins (Santa Clara University)
  • Ido Kozikaro (center) also plays for the Israeli National Team

On 26 October 2008, Maccabi Haifa started its season winning its first 3 games by an average margin score of 21 points per game and won 7 of its first 9 games before running into its rival Maccabi Tel Aviv in an 80–68 loss. Led by team captain Doron Perkins the team finished the season in 3rd place with a 14–8 record, reaching the Israeli League playoffs in the team's first year back in the Premier League.

In the first round of the playoffs, Haifa defeated Bnei HaSharon in four games, 66–69, 75–71, 74–61 and 87–68. In the [Semi Finals|2008–09 Israeli Final Four] Haifa defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 98-93. In the finals, Haifa lost to Maccabi Tel Aviv, 85–72.[3]

2009–10 season

On 5 August 2009, before the 2009–10 Israeli Basketball Super League season, the club announced that it would be changing its name from Maccabi Haifa Heat, to just being Maccabi Haifa. The decision to drop the "Heat" from its name due to possible confusion with NBA franchise Miami Heat.[4]

On 23 August the club signed the young high school phenom Jeremy Tyler from San Diego High School.[5]

The club finished the regular season at 4th place with a 14–8 record. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the 5th seed Elitzur Maccabi Netanya, in four games, 76–88, 75–73, 75–77 and 71–75.[6]

2010–11 season

During the 2010–11 Israeli Basketball Super League Haifa won a place in the Eurochallenge by beating the French team Paris. The club played an historic game against the NBA New Jersey Nets in front of 5,174 fans at the Prudential Center. Haifa trailed 56–43 at the break, but lost, 108-70.

The 2010–11 season was the first of two seasons under head coach Miki Gorka. Haifa finished the season in 9th place with a record of 8–19 and did not qualify for the playoffs.[7]

2011–12 season

Mickey Gorka who finished the 2010–11 season with 6 home wins in a row signed with the team as head coach for the, 2011–12 Israeli Basketball Super League season, his second season, alongside his assistant Offer Rahimi. Sylven Landesberg, Tyler Wilkerson, Avi Ben-Chimol and Jermaine Jackson also returned from last season and the team signed ex N.B.A players Sean Williams and Qyntel Woods. The team would be the tallest team on average in the league – 6-foot-5 (1.98 meters) and one of the youngest – 24.5 years-old. In November 2011, the team acquired a new main sponsor, the Oil Refineries LTD. (BAZAN) and is now called Maccabi Bazan Haifa.

Haifa finished the season final and 11th place with a record of 5–19.[8]

2012–13 season

The 2012–13 Israeli Basketball Super League season was the first every championship for Maccabi Haifa, and their first season under head coach Brad Greenberg. Haifa star Gal Mekel was also named the MVP of the season.[9]

Haifa finished the season with a 17–10 record, which was good enough for second place. In the quarter finals, Haifa beat Hapoel Gilboa Galil in three straight games, 87–85, 93–81 and 93–87. Then in the semifinals they beat Hapoel Eilat in five games, 87–75, 105–84, 75–78 (OT), 72–82 and 71–68.

Haifa won the 2012–13 Israeli Basketball Super League Final championship, on their home court, the Romema Arena in Haifa, on 13 July 2013. They defeated the prior year's champions, Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maccabi Haifa won their first ever title after an 86–79 victory.[10]

2013–14 season

During the 2013–14 Israeli Basketball Super League season, for the second consecutive season, Macabbi Haifa made it to the finals, again against Maccabi Tel Aviv. For the first time in league history the finals would be a two-game, split home and home series, with the total cumulative score determining the champion.[11]

Maccabi Haifa lost game, at home, by a score of 77–81.[12] Due to the new format, Haifa would need to win the second game by 5 points in order to win the championship. Game two was played in the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv and at the end of regulation they were winning by 4 points, which was a cumulative tie, sending the game into over time. Although Haifa won the game by 2 points, 84–82, they lost the series in cumulative total score 161–163.[13]

Donta Smith was named the league's Most Valuable Player.[14]

2014–15 season

Maccabi Haifa finished the 2014–15 Israeli Basketball Super League season with a 17–16 record, putting them in a five-way tie for third place, in terms of record. Due to point differential however, they finished in fifth place.[15]

In the first round of the playoffs, Haifa played Hapoel Eilat and lost, three games to two.[16] This ended their season, and a streak of two straight seasons of competing in the finals.

Season by season

Season Tier League Pos. Israel Cup League Cup European competitions
2007–08 2 Liga Leumit 4th
2008–09 1 Ligat HaAl 2nd Runner-up
2009–10 1 Ligat HaAl 7th Second round Semifinalist
2010–11 1 Ligat HaAl 9th Quarterfinals 3 EuroChallenge L16
2011–12 1 Ligat HaAl 11th Second round
2012–13 1 Ligat HaAl 1st Runner-up Runner-up
2013–14 1 Ligat HaAl 2nd Second round 2 Eurocup L32
2014–15 1 Ligat HaAl 5th Semifinalist
2015–16 1 Ligat HaAl 8th Quarterfinalist
2016–17 1 Ligat HaAl 2nd Quarterfinalist Quarterfinalist

Roster

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Maccabi Haifa roster
Players Coaches
}
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Age
SF 1 United States Israel Workman, Willy 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 34 – (1990-03-14)14 March 1990
G 2 Israel Baruch, Gal 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 25 – (1998-10-15)15 October 1998
PG 3 Puerto Rico Rodríguez, Ángel 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 31 – (1992-12-05)5 December 1992
G 4 Israel Asayag, Tomer 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 24 – (1999-06-09)9 June 1999
C 5 Israel Har-Even, Shalev 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 25 – (1999-01-01)1 January 1999
G 6 Israel Zabek, Gal 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 25 – (1998-12-13)13 December 1998
SG 8 Israel Yivzori, Dagan 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 38 – (1985-10-15)15 October 1985
F 10 Israel Artzi, Netanel 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 27 – (1997-03-21)21 March 1997
G 13 Israel Huber, Roi 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 27 – (1997-02-10)10 February 1997
PF 14 Israel Blayzer, Oz (C) 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 31 – (1992-12-29)29 December 1992
F/C 15 United States Bowman, Brandon 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 39 – (1984-10-15)15 October 1984
C 23 Israel Koperberg, Daniel 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 26 – (1997-12-08)8 December 1997
G 25 United States Mexico Martínez, Luke 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 33 – (1990-08-24)24 August 1990
G 33 France Israel Bourdillon, Frédéric 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 33 – (1991-03-16)16 March 1991
C United States Buckner, Reggie 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 32 – (1991-05-12)12 May 1991
PG Israel Israeli, Guni 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 39 – (1984-11-18)18 November 1984
Head coach
  • Israel Offer Rahimi
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured

Updated: November 10, 2017

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
C Reggie Buckner Daniel Koperberg Shalev Har-Even
PF Oz Blayzer Brandon Bowman Netanel Artzi
SF Willy Workman Frédéric Bourdillon
SG Luke Martínez Dagan Yivzori Roi Huber Tomer Asayag
PG Ángel Rodríguez Guni Israeli Gal Baruch Gal Zabek

Notable former players

Honors

Maccabi Haifa against NBA teams

3 October 2010
New Jersey Nets[17] United States 108–70 Israel Maccabi Haifa
11 October 2012
Golden State Warriors[18] United States 108–100 Israel Maccabi Haifa
16 October 2012
Minnesota Timberwolves[19] United States 114–81 Israel Maccabi Haifa
7 October 2013
Phoenix Suns[20] United States 130–89 Israel Maccabi Haifa
8 October 2013
Detroit Pistons[21] United States 91–69 Israel Maccabi Haifa
13 October 2013
Memphis Grizzlies[22] United States 116–70 Israel Maccabi Haifa
15 October 2014
Washington Wizards[23]United States 101–95 Israel Maccabi Haifa
18 October 2014
Portland Trail Blazers[24]United States 121–74 Israel Maccabi Haifa
19 October 2014
Sacramento Kings[25] United States 91–59 Israel Maccabi Haifa
22 October 2014
Toronto Raptors[26] Canada 92–85 Israel Maccabi Haifa
8 October 2015
Memphis Grizzlies[27] United States 97–84 Israel Maccabi Haifa
11 October 2015[28]
Los Angeles Lakers[27]United States 126–83 Israel Maccabi Haifa
10 October 2016
Sacramento Kings[29] United States 135–96 Israel Maccabi Haifa
4 October 2017
Utah Jazz United States 117–78 Israel Maccabi Haifa
10 October 2017
Indiana Pacers United States 108–89 Israel Maccabi Haifa
13 October 2017
Portland Trail Blazers United States 129–81 Israel Maccabi Haifa

International broadcasts

Individual games

When Jeffrey Rosen acquired Maccabi Haifa, he felt that his best approach at gaining financial strength for the team as well as the league, was to try and expand viewership beyond Israel. In addition their TV show Inside Israeli Basketball, Maccabi Haifa began to show taped delayed games online at triangleinternet.tv as well as YouTube.[30]

Inside Israeli Basketball

Maccabi Haifa produces an internationally broadcast television show called Inside Israeli Basketball. The show first premiered on 17 August 2010.[31]

The show has 7 episodes per season and airs November to June, with one new episode per month. The show follows the Maccabi Haifa's season, and shows highlights from each of their games. The program is hosted by Yarden Harel and was formally hosted by Becky Griffin, and produced on location by Joseph Marc Sports.[32] The show additionally, due to the broadcasting in America, focuses on the American players playing in Israel.[33]

The show is currently syndicated on the YES Network, Sun Sports, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, The Comcast Network, and SportSouth.[34]

Miami Midnites

In 2014 Maccabi Haifa became the first ever Israeli basketball team to create an international development team. Their developmental team, the Miami Midnites, play in the Florida Basketball Association, and are coached by Shakey Rodriguez.[35] The midnites, finished their first season in first place, with an 11-1 record.[36] They went on defeat the Palm Beach Knights in the semifinals and the Tampa Bay Rebels in the finals, to win the championship.[37][38]

After winning the FBA championship in the inaugural season, they announced they would be joining the American Basketball Association for the 2014–15 ABA season.[39]

References

  1. ^ a b U.S. billionaire aims to turn pet team into a powerhouse Haaretz, 21 May 2008
  2. ^ Basketball / American billionaire buys Maccabi Haifa Haaretz, 21 July 2007
  3. ^ LTD, Art-Up. "ISRAEL BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE - 2008-09 Season - History". www.Basket.co.il. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  4. ^ http://mhbasket.co.il/News.asp?id=589&lang=en#.U8SUGfldVy0
  5. ^ "Now it's official: Tyler in Haifa". Sportando.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  6. ^ LTD, Art-Up. "ISRAEL BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE - 2009-10 Season - History". www.Basket.co.il. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  7. ^ LTD, Art-Up. "ISRAEL BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE - 2010-11 Season - History". www.Basket.co.il. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  8. ^ LTD, Art-Up. "ISRAEL BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE - 2011-12 Season - History". www.Basket.co.il. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  9. ^ "ב-2011 זה לא הספיק לו: גל מקל זכה בתואר שחקן העונה". Sport5.co.il - אתר ערוץ הספורט. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  10. ^ http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/Israel/2013/0613_159_2732.asp
  11. ^ "Maccabi Tel Aviv wins Euroleague final 98-86". TimesOfIsrael.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  12. ^ LTD, Art-Up. "Winner League Final Series, Game Number 1: M. Haifa Vs M. Tel-Aviv". basket.co.il. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  13. ^ LTD, Art-Up. "Winner League Final Series, Game Number 2: M. Tel-Aviv Vs M. Haifa". Basket.co.il. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  14. ^ "Jerusalem lands Israeli League MVP Smith". Euroleague.net. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Israeli championship champions group results and standings". DailyMail.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Eilat edges Mac Haifa in rubber match, advances to semis". JPost.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Maccabi Haifa vs. Nets - Game Recap - October 3, 2010 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Maccabi Haifa at Warriors". nba.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Maccabi Haifa at Timberwolves". nba.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  20. ^ "Maccabi Haifa vs. Suns - Box Score - October 7, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  21. ^ "Maccabi Haifa vs. Pistons - Box Score - October 8, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Maccabi Haifa vs. Grizzlies - Box Score - October 13, 2013 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  23. ^ "Maccabi Haifa vs. Wizards - Box Score - October 15, 2014 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  24. ^ "Maccabi Haifa vs. Trail Blazers - Box Score - October 17, 2014 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  25. ^ "Sacramento Kings Basketball - Kings News, Scores, Stats, Rumors & More - ESPN". go.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Maccabi Haifa vs. Raptors - Box Score - October 22, 2014 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  27. ^ a b "Maccabi Haifa vs. Grizzlies - Play-By-Play - October 8, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  28. ^ "Lakers open preseason in Hawaii". ocregister.com. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  29. ^ "Maccabi Haifa vs. Kings - Box Score - October 10, 2016 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  30. ^ http://triangleinternet.tv/"Triangle Internet". Triangle Internet. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  31. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1934683/"Inside Israeli Basketball". Inside Israeli Basketball. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  32. ^ http://www.trianglefs.com/ssp/news?news_id=183"Triangle Financial Services". Triangle Financial Services. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  33. ^ http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/inside-israeli-basketball/cast/346638"Inside Israeli Basketball". Inside Israeli Basketball. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  34. ^ http://www.trianglefs.com/ssp/news?news_id=183"Inside Israeli Basketball Nominated for 2012 New York Emmy® Award". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  35. ^ http://www.miamimidnites.com/miami-wins.html"MIAMI MIDNITES ANNOUNCE INAUGURAL 2014 SUMMER SEASON". Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  36. ^ "fl-bball-assoc". wix.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  37. ^ "fl-bball-assoc". wix.com. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  38. ^ Sports Scene: Miami Midnites of Maccabi Haifa win Florida Basketball Association title - Retrieved 17 November 2014
  39. ^ Midnites joining ABA - Retrieved 17 November 2014

External links