Like a crumbling wall: Oded Kattash's dire situation at Maccabi Tel Aviv

Maccabi Tel Aviv is in a deep slump in the EuroLeague with five consecutive losses and a poor defense allowing about 95 points per game. Oded Kattash receives backing from Koldobella but appears helpless, center Daniel Theis has been removed from the rotation, and the club is looking to offload his expensive contract. An ownership war and the move to Cyprus are exacerbating the crisis.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will take the floor tonight (Friday, 21:45) for an away game against Partizan Belgrade in the EuroLeague at the lowest professional point in its European history. The team ranks 17th with a 2-7 record and a poor defense allowing about 95 points per game, after five consecutive losses in all competitions. Coach Oded Kattash bears public responsibility, receives backing from sporting director Claudio Koldobella, but appears helpless in the face of defensive weakness and repeated collapses. Center Daniel Theis, the flagship summer signing on a massive two-year, $4.5 million contract, has been removed from the rotation and the club is looking for a way to offload his contract. The injury to Iffe Lundberg has left a short roster, and a deal to sign Killian Hayes collapsed at the last moment. Above the professional chaos looms an ownership war between Udi Rekanati and Shimon Mizrahi against Richard Deitsch, and the team will begin hosting its games in Limassol, Cyprus starting next week.