Partizan – Crvena Zvezda
International - ABA League, Round 5
30/10/2023 - 20:00 CET
In just five days, Partizan and Crvena Zvezda will face each other once again in another Eternal Derby. The black and whites emerged victorious in their recent EuroLeague clash by 88:86, and now they are set to compete in the ABA League. On Thursday, Partizan found themselves on the brink of defeat, trailing by 11 points midway through the fourth quarter. However, Aleksa Avramovic stepped up and took matters into his own hands. He sank two three-pointers, made a couple of easy layups, and became the absolute hero for his team and the 20,000 fans present at the Stark Arena. Nevertheless, this game had its downsides for Partizan. Their star player, Kevin Punter, suffered an injury and will be sidelined for the next two weeks. On a positive note, Ognjen Jaramaz had a great game after a long period of being out of rhythm, and Frank Kaminsky appears to be improving with time. PJ Dozier was also impressive and is likely to become one of Partizan's most crucial players on both ends of the court in the coming months.
On the other side, Crvena Zvezda approached the previous Eternal Derby following a change in head coach. Ioannis Sfairopoulos has quickly organized the team and came close to securing a significant win in the EuroLeague. Certain changes were evident when compared to their previous coach, Dusko Ivanovic. Brazilian point guard Yago dos Santos received a lot more playing time and delivered with 11 points and five assists. Mike Tobey found his place in the team once again, and nine players were used in the game. Under Ivanovic, it was common to rotate all 12 players within a single half. Clearly, the change in the coaching staff has had a positive impact on the red and whites, as they approached the clash with much more confidence and determination. We can expect a similar approach in Monday night's game.
Partizan gained a substantial advantage in the first quarter on the back of high energy on Thursday. Excluding the initial five minutes and the final five, where Avramovic dominated, Crvena Zvezda was the better team on the court. They found it easier to get open shots, and Joel Bolomboy dominated in the paint. Now that Partizan will be without their best player, Punter, the defensive focus will shift significantly. Adam Hanga will likely spend more time guarding James Nunnally and perhaps Avramovic, creating challenges for Partizan. The home team's defense is weak, and it's exceedingly challenging for them to limit any opponent under 80 points. Crvena Zvezda missed their chance for a win in the EuroLeague, but it's unlikely they'll miss it twice in five days. If they do lose, it will likely be another close game down to the last possession.