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Maccabi without Randle, CSKA without Teodosic

- We need to do defense well and limit them to around 72 points. We need good shooting efficiency and 9-10 three pointers for the win - coach Goodes said.

Tel Aviv are not doing as the fans and coach Goodes would want them to, but a few consecutive wins did them good after a few bad defeats. The wins in Malaga and Limoges got them very close to qualifying for the Top 16. Maccabi are, after all, the defending champions. From this point on, they will be trying to end up at the best possible spot in the group. Unicaja and them are currently on 4-2, but the Spaniards still have the away game with CSKA, who might as well be the top European team at the moment.

- CSKA are among the top three European teams at the moment. But we weren't the best team in the Final Four last year and Olympiacos weren't the best in 2013 - coach Goodes said.

- We need good three point efficiency - we need some 9-10 three pointers - Goodes said. He changed the roles in the line up a bit after the losing streak. Pargo was off the starting line-up, Ohayon in.

- We are winning and Pargo adjusted to the situation - Goodes said. The most interesting question is why he still keeps Haynes, who couldn't score if his life depended on it, in the line up.

- He plays good defense - the coach said.

Landseberg is the alternative. He finished the championship win over Maccabi Haifa last weekend at 31 point (in 29 minutes) with 11/15 from the floor. Devin Smith added 13 points and 16 rebounds, and only 1 three pointer in 8 attempts.

Maccabi will have to do without Phini for the rest of the season, and their power forward Randle won't be on the team today either. Aleks Maric got injured in the training session and Goodes confirmed he is questionable for today. That leaves Sofoklis, Tyus, and Cohen for the front court, with Devin Smith capable of acting as the four if necessary.

- We have 9 players and this will be a huge challenge. It will be an interesting game against a team that is in great shape.

The coach was, of course, asked about Milos Teodosic, who is probably the MVP of this season's Euroleague...

- I think no one is able to do what he's doing at the moment. We know what we need to do but CSKA have other excellent players capable of making great decisions We need to do well in defense and limit them to around 72 points. 

Since they conceded 99 in Moscow and 83 in the last home game to Cedevita, coach's words seem more like a dream than a reality. Bear in mind that they didn't have Tyus and Smith for the game in Moscow though.

CSKA are on the three teams on a perfect record in Euroleague so far. They already secured a spot in Top 16, their offense is brilliant and they managed to beat Alba easily last week despite being without Teodosic. The same happened in VTB League as they met Astana on Sunday. It was CSKA's 12th consecutive win, with 6 of their players scoring double digits. Voroncevic did well with 15 again.

- Congratulations to my players, who have once again had a serious approach. It was particularly obvious in defense when we forced the opponents into 27 turnovers. Astana had 10 offensive rebounds in the first half, but we managed to deal with it in the second half, limiting them to only two. It have us more chances in offense, which had an immediate effect on the score - Itoudis said.

He can be very happy with his team's performances without Teodosic on board. Markoisvili is back to help the team today, and Hrjapa is going to sit this game out as well, even though he went to Tel Avaiv with the team. Teodosic and Zozulin are out as well.

- We're playing the defending champions and we expect a tough game at the great arena. Maccabi are doing well lately, their players have had good Euroleague performances. We need to deal with Tyus today. He's a different kind of center and didn't play in Moscow. We expect a tough game but we'll try and win - Itoudis said.

CSKA already qualified to Top but won't be holding back today. The game with Astana was a clear proof of them always doing their best. Besides, they want to get back to Maccabi for the Final Four defeat last season once again.

- As always, we want to win even though we know it won't be easy. They are extra motivated after the defeat in Moscow and need to fight to win every game for the spot in Top 16. I think we're in good form and that we are ready to keep the good games up, even in Tel Aviv - Sonny Weems said. 

CSKA aren't as powerful offensively without Teodosic. Regardless of their great offense performances up till now, I think this margin is too high for a few reasons. First of all, Maccabbi are getting better after a bad period that was characterized by poorer defense performances. Now that Smith and Tyus are back, the defense is much tougher. The defense is the way Maccabi's coach plans to limit CSKA to 72 points today - or at least he would want it. I would be happy even with a few points more, but I don't think CSKA will record 80 in this away game.