Israeli Premier League Basketball

By Divol

Hapoel Jeusalem v Galil Elyon



25th May 16:00 GMT

I believe that Jerusalem will win, but the odds and the line are correct; so I don't see any value here. But, I do think we have got a really nice total value here. I think that 165 is the right total, maybe even 166 points. I believe that both teams can score 80+ points and probably will do that as well. Bookies and the public got too impressed by the low scores that Jerusalem made in the series against Rishon, but it's wrong. It was Rishon that forced that style of play on Jerusalem.

Now we have got two teams that both have a great back court that has an arsenal of offensive moves and both back courts love to run the floor and shoot three pointers. If we add to that, the fact that it should be a close game, I believe we can see a lot of FT's in the final minute so the total will be pushed even higher. A result like 91 - 85 sounds about right for me and that is way higher than the total set for the game. I would play the total up to 162 points.

Pick: Over 158.5, 1.96 odds - 3.5 units play - Pinnacle


Maccabi Tel Aviv v Elitzur Netanya



25th May 18:55 GMT

There is no doubt that TA can beat Netania by 20+ points. But can and will are two different things. Maccabi in their current form and Netania in their current form are not even teams, but a line of 10 points would have been much more accurate. There is a good chance that Netania will have the majority of fans, since fans of the winning team of the first Semi Finals will probably stay to support them. Maccabi also has many professional problems. We all saw what happened in the last two games against Bney Ha Sharon. Maccabi was so close to losing the 5th game and not making it to the Final Four.

Netania was also the first Israeli team to beat Maccabi this season and they will probably try to force a slow game to keep Maccabi close to them. Maccabi will win probably, but I think that result like 81 - 72 or even 81 - 74 sounds about right for such game.

Pick: Netania +15.5 - 1.94 odds - 2.5 units play - Pinnacle

Divol