# 2014–15 Israeli Basketball Super League

The 2014–2015 Israeli Basketball Super League, for sponsorships reasons known as Ligat Winner Basketball, was the 61st season of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. The season began on October 12, 2014, and ended on June 25, 2014.
The season marked the first time since 1993 that Maccabi Tel Aviv did not reach the Finals, and the third time they failed to finish in either the first or second place. The season was the first time in the league's history to not include a Tel Aviv-based team in the first or second place.
Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. took the Israeli title, after it beat Hapoel Eilat in the Finals.

## Teams
### Changes

Barak Netanya has been relegated to Ligat Leumit due to financial difficulties, Making Maccabi Ashdod stay in the league although finishing last in the previous season. Ironi Nahariya has been promoted to the league after winning Ligat Leumit last season.

### Stadia and locations

| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity | Last Season (Regular season) |
| Bnei Herzliya | Herzliya | HaYovel Herzliya | 1,500 | 11th |
| Hapoel Gilboa Galil | Gilboa Regional Council | Gan Ner Sports Hall | 2,100 | QF (8th) |
| Hapoel Holon | Holon | Holon Toto Hall | 5,500 | QF (7th) |
| Hapoel Jerusalem | Jerusalem | Pais Arena | 11,000 | SF (2nd) |
| Ironi Nahariya | Nahariya | Ein Sarah | 2,000 | 1st (Ligat Leumit) |
| Ironi Nes Ziona | Nes Ziona | Lev Hamoshava | 1,300 | QF (6th) |
| Maccabi Ashdod | Ashdod | HaKiriya Arena | 2,200 | 12th |
| Hapoel Eilat B.C. | Eilat | Begin Arena | 1,200 | SF (5th) |
| Maccabi Haifa | Haifa | Romema Arena | 5,000 | Runner-Up (3rd) |
| Maccabi Rishon LeZion | Rishon LeZion | Beit Maccabi Rishon | 2,200 | 10th |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv | Tel Aviv | Menora Mivtachim Arena | 10,383 | Champion (1st) |
| Hapoel Tel Aviv | Tel Aviv | Drive in Arena | 3,504 | QF (4th) |

### Head coaches

| Team | Head coach | Seasons in the club |
| Bnei Herzliya | Mickey Gorka | 1 |
| Hapoel Gilboa Galil | Ariel Beit-Halahmy | 1 |
| Hapoel Holon | Elad Hasin | 2 |
| Hapoel Jerusalem | Danny Franco | 1 |
| Ironi Nahariya | Roi Hagay | 2 |
| Ironi Nes Ziona | Nadav Zilberstein | 2 |
| Maccabi Ashdod | Zvi Sherf | 1 |
| Hapoel Eilat | Arik Shivek | 3 |
| Maccabi Haifa | Rami Hadar | 2 |
| Maccabi Rishon LeZion | Sharon Drucker | 1 |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv | Guy Goodes | 1 |
| Hapoel Tel Aviv | Oded Kattash | 1 |

## Regular season

| | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | Maccabi Tel Aviv | 33 | 27 | 6 | 2867 | 2611 | +256 | 60 |
| 2. | Hapoel Jerusalem | 33 | 25 | 8 | 2794 | 2427 | +367 | 58 |
| 3. | Hapoel Holon | 33 | 17 | 16 | 2675 | 2669 | +6 | 50 |
| 4. | Hapoel Eilat | 33 | 17 | 16 | 2718 | 2708 | +10 | 50 |
| 5. | Maccabi Haifa | 33 | 17 | 16 | 2655 | 2668 | -13 | 50 |
| 6. | Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 33 | 17 | 16 | 2643 | 2621 | +22 | 50 |
| 7. | Hapoel Tel Aviv | 33 | 17 | 16 | 2674 | 2591 | +83 | 50 |
| 8. | Ironi Nes Ziona | 33 | 15 | 18 | 2647 | 2705 | -58 | 48 |
| 9. | Bnei Herzliya | 33 | 14 | 19 | 2826 | 2850 | -24 | 47 |
| 10. | Ironi Nahariya | 33 | 12 | 21 | 2634 | 2855 | -221 | 45 |
| 11. | Maccabi Ashdod | 33 | 11 | 22 | 2650 | 2799 | -149 | 44 |
| 12. | Hapoel Gilboa Galil | 33 | 9 | 24 | 2518 | 2797 | -279 | 42 |
* Qualification to Quarterfinals
* Relegation to the Second Division
Pld – Played; W – Won; L – Lost; PF – Points for; PA – Points against; Diff – Difference; Pts – Points.

## Playoffs
### Bracket

Small bold numbers represent the seed earned in the regular season of each team.
| Quarterfinals 16–31 May | Quarterfinals 16–31 May | Quarterfinals 16–31 May | Quarterfinals 16–31 May | Semifinals 3–18 June | Semifinals 3–18 June | Semifinals 3–18 June | Semifinals 3–18 June | Finals 22–25 June | Finals 22–25 June | Finals 22–25 June | Finals 22–25 June |
| 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv | 3 | | | | |
| 8 Ironi Nes Ziona | 8 Ironi Nes Ziona | 8 Ironi Nes Ziona | 0 | | | | |
| 8 Ironi Nes Ziona | 8 Ironi Nes Ziona | 8 Ironi Nes Ziona | 0 | 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv | 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv | 2 |
| | | | | 4 Hapoel Eilat | 4 Hapoel Eilat | 4 Hapoel Eilat | 3 |
| 4 Hapoel Eilat | 4 Hapoel Eilat | 4 Hapoel Eilat | 3 | 4 Hapoel Eilat | 4 Hapoel Eilat | 4 Hapoel Eilat | 3 |
| 5 Maccabi Haifa | 5 Maccabi Haifa | 5 Maccabi Haifa | 2 | | | | | | | | |
| 5 Maccabi Haifa | 5 Maccabi Haifa | 5 Maccabi Haifa | 2 | | | | | 4 Hapoel Eilat | 65 | 68 | 133 |
| | | | | | | | | 2 Hapoel Jerusalem | 80 | 88 | 168 |
| 2 Hapoel Jerusalem | 2 Hapoel Jerusalem | 2 Hapoel Jerusalem | 3 | | | | | 2 Hapoel Jerusalem | 80 | 88 | 168 |
| 7 Hapoel Tel Aviv | 7 Hapoel Tel Aviv | 7 Hapoel Tel Aviv | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 7 Hapoel Tel Aviv | 7 Hapoel Tel Aviv | 7 Hapoel Tel Aviv | 0 | 2 Hapoel Jerusalem | 2 Hapoel Jerusalem | 2 Hapoel Jerusalem | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | 4 Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 4 Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 4 Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 0 |
| 3 Hapoel Holon | 3 Hapoel Holon | 3 Hapoel Holon | 1 | 4 Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 4 Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 4 Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 0 |
| 6 Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 6 Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 6 Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 3 | | | | |

### Quarterfinals

The Quarterfinals are played as The-Best-Of-5 series. The higher ranked team hosts games 1, 3 and 5 (if necessary). The lower ranked team hosts games 2 and 4 (if necessary).
| Team #1 | Agg. | Team #2 | Game 1 16–18 May | Game 2 20–21 May | Game 3 24–25 May | Game 4 27–28 May | Game 5 30–31 May |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv (1) | 3-0 | (8) Ironi Nes Ziona | 89-88 | 75-56 | 90-73 | | |
| Hapoel Jerusalem (2) | 3-0 | (7) Hapoel Tel Aviv | 75-67 | 98-83 | 77-73 (OT) | | |
| Hapoel Holon (3) | 1-3 | (6) Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 76-80 (OT) | 73-79 | 83-64 | 81-93 | |
| Hapoel Eilat (4) | 3-2 | (5) Maccabi Haifa | 95-74 | 68-76 | 85-79 | 62-69 | 85-75 |

### Semifinals

The Semifinals are played The-Best-Of-5 series. The higher ranked team hosts games 1, 3 and 5 (if necessary). The lower ranked team hosts games 2 and 4 (if necessary).
| Team #1 | Agg. | Team #2 | Game 1 3–4 June | Game 2 7–8 June | Game 3 10–11 June | Game 4 14–15 June | Game 5 17–18 June |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv (1) | 2-3 | (4) Hapoel Eilat | 91-82 | 86-64 | 98-104 (OT) | 79-92 | 76-79 |
| Hapoel Jerusalem (2) | 3-0 | (6) Maccabi Rishon LeZion | 81-73 | 76-75 | 90-74 | | |

### Finals

The Finals series is played in a home-and-away format, with the overall cumulative score determining the champion. Thus, the score of one single game can be tied. The team who finishes at a higher place in the regular season will host the second game.
| Team #1 | Agg. | Team #2 | Game 1 22 June | Game 2 25 June |
| Hapoel Eilat (4) | 133-168 | (2) Hapoel Jerusalem | 65-80 | 68-88 |

#### Game 1

* 22 June 2015 21:00
* Box score
| Hapoel Eilat | 65–80 | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| Scoring by quarter: 22-25, 14-19, 16-20, 13-16 |||
| Pts: Uter 16 Rebs: Uter, Kadir 8 Asts: Nissim 7 | | Pts: Wright 18 Rebs: Thompson 7 Asts: Eliyahu 7 |
* Begin Arena Attendance: 1,300

#### Game 2

* 25 June 2015 21:00
* Box score
| Hapoel Jerusalem | 88–68 | Hapoel Eilat |
| Scoring by quarter: 20-26, 16-18, 27-10, 25-14 |||
| Pts: Smith, Wright 20 Rebs: Smith 10 Asts: Smith, Eliyahu 6 | | Pts: Uter 17 Rebs: Uter 11 Asts: Berkowitz 5 |
* Pais Arena, Jerusalem Attendance: 11,000
* 2015 Israeli Basketball Super League Champions
* Hapoel Jerusalem 1st title

## All-Star Game

The 2015 Israeli League All-star event was held on 3 March 2015, at the new Holon Toto Hall in Holon. Every team sent one foreigner and one Israeli for the respective team, with the remaining spots been selected by the League. Maccabi Tel Aviv have been abroad for a Euroleague game, therefore their players did not compete in the event.
Israeli All-Stars :
| Pos | Player | Team |
| Starters |||
| G | Meir Tapiro | Ironi Nes Ziona |
| G | Yotam Halperin | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| F | Shawn Dawson | Maccabi Rishon LeZion |
| F | Lior Eliyahu | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| C | Elishay Kadir | Hapoel Eilat |
| Reserves |||
| G | Shlomi Harush | Hapoel Holon |
| G | Raviv Limonad | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
| G | Yuval Naimi | Bnei Herzliya |
| G | Chanan Colman | Maccabi Haifa |
| F | Itay Segev | Hapoel Gilboa Galil |
| C | Robert Rothbart | Ironi Nahariya |
| C | Isaac Rosefelt | Hapoel Holon |
| Head coach: Elad Hasin (Hapoel Holon) |||
| Head coach: Sharon Drucker (Maccabi Rishon LeZion) |||
International All-Stars :
| Pos | Player | Team |
| Starters |||
| G | Jordan Taylor | Hapoel Holon |
| G | Isaiah Swann | Maccabi Rishon LeZion |
| F | Donta Smith | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| F | Yancy Gates | Hapoel Tel Aviv |
| C | Craig Smith | Ironi Nes Ziona |
| Reserves |||
| G | Mark Lyons | Ironi Nahariya |
| G | Josh Selby | Bnei Herzliya |
| G | Alex Young | Hapoel Gilboa Galil |
| G | Bracey Wright | Hapoel Jerusalem |
| F | Tony Crocker | Hapoel Holon |
| F | René Rougeau | Maccabi Haifa |
| C | Curtis Kelly | Maccabi Ashdod |
| C | Adrian Uter | Hapoel Eilat |
| Head coach:Danny Franco (Hapoel Jerusalem) |||
| Head coach:Oded Kattash (Hapoel Tel Aviv) |||
* 3 March
| Israeli All-Stars | 122–121 (OT) | International All-Stars |
| Scoring by quarter: 30–30, 29–43, 36–19, 23–26, Overtime: 4–3 |||
| Pts: Rothbart 26 Rebs: Rothbart 8 Asts: Lior Eliyahu 7 | | Pts: Selby 23 Asts: Selby 11 |

### Three-point shootout

Contestants :
| Pos. | Player | Team | First round | Final round |
| G | Zack Rosen (W) | Maccabi Ashdod | 20 | 19 |
| G | Chanan Colman | Maccabi Haifa | 19 | 14 |
| C | Robert Rothbart | Ironi Nahariya | 14 | - |
| G | Yehu Orland | Maccabi Ashdod | 14 | - |
| G | Yuval Naimi | Bnei Herzliya | 13 | - |
| G | Yotam Halperin | Hapoel Jerusalem | 9 | - |
| G | Tony Crocker | Hapoel Holon | 8 | - |

### Slam Dunk Contest

Contestants :
| Pos. | Player | Team |
| G | Mark Lyons (W) | Ironi Nahariya |
| F | Ivan Aska | Maccabi Ashdod |
| F | Itay Segev | Hapoel Gilboa Galil |
| F | Netanel Artzi | Maccabi Haifa |

## Awards
### Regular season MVP

* Lior Eliyahu (Hapoel Jerusalem)

### All-BSL 1st team

* Khalif Wyatt (Hapoel Eilat)
* Shawn Dawson (Maccabi Rishon LeZion)
* Devin Smith (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
* Lior Eliyahu (Hapoel Jerusalem)
* Ike Ofoegbu (Maccabi Haifa)

### Coach of the Season

* Danny Franco

### Rising Star

* Shawn Dawson (Maccabi Rishon LeZion)

### Best Defender

* Brian Randle (Maccabi Tel Aviv)

### Most Improved Player

* Robert Rothbart (Ironi Nahariya)

### Sixth Man of the Season

* Tony Gaffney (Hapoel Jerusalem)