PORTLAND, Ore. (Aug. 18, 2014) – The Portland Trail Blazers will host Israeli team Maccabi Haifa on Friday, Oct. 17 to round out Portland’s seven-game preseason schedule, it was announced today by the two teams. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. (Pacific), and is one of three preseason home games at the Moda Center. The Trail Blazers will also play Utah (Oct. 7) and the Los Angeles Clippers (Oct. 12). FIND TICKETS: Value Pack includes game vs. Maccabi Haifa The 2012-13 Israeli Basketball Super League champions, Maccabi Haifa was the runner-up to Maccabi Tel Aviv last season. Maccabi Haifa made it to the Last 32 round of Eurocup 2014. Maccabi Haifa will also play the Wizards on Oct. 15, the Kings on Oct. 18, and Raptors on Oct. 22 as part of a four-game North American tour. For Trail Blazers tickets, call 844-RIP-CITY or visit Trail Blazers Ticket Central. Maccabi Haifa’s October tour will mark the fourth time in five years the team will travel to North America to play against NBA competition. In three trips to the U.S., Maccabi Haifa has faced six NBA opponents (Nets, Warriors, Timberwolves, Suns, Pistons, Grizzlies). At the conclusion of the North American tour, Maccabi Haifa will rank second all-time among international basketball teams in games played (10) against NBA opponents. http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/tra...haifa-october-17-round-out-preseason-schedule
Don't worry, their houses with their entire extended families in them will then be destroyed, so it'll all work out even.
One of Europe's top 32 teams, but not above 17th! What a contest this will be. Let's check the roster. http://www.basketball-reference.com/euro/teams/maccabi-haifa/2014_eurocup.html
Being the biggest Blazer fan in Israel (I know of a few more) this is very exciting to me. I live about an hour drive from Haifa, wish the Blazers could repay them a visit... They have only one player who plays for the national team - Dagan Yavzuri. Other than him their roster seems very unattractive. Gal Mekel who plays for Dallas was their PG when they won the championship two years ago. They lost their best player, Donte Smith, to Hapoel Jerusalem this summer and it seems like they've regressed but it is possible that one of their foreign players (usually American) proves to be a stud. I'll be rooting for the Blazers, of course. Go Blazers!!!
Thanks for sharing, didn't know we had the presence of the biggest Blazer fan in Israel on the board! Get this, I just ran into Neil Oshley at Starbucks this morning! Told him it was cool that they scheduled this game and that I was planning on getting tickets. Crazy coincidence because I rarely go to that location.
Hey, I'm not gonna brag but I may be the biggest Blazers fan outside Portland... Wanted to add to my scouting report that they also have a PF named Brian Randle who's a terrific player. Didn't remember he's still on their team.