Zalgiris – Crvena Zvezda

 EuroLeague, Round 2

13/10/2023 19:00 CET

Zalgiris made a great comeback in their own style in Bologna last week, defeating Virtus by 79:82. Kazys Maksvytis’ team had many such games in the previous season. Keenan Evans returned after a severe injury, but it seems that the break has not affected his game in any way. Edgaras Ulanovas hit the deciding shot again, and Rolands Smits contributed in various ways on both ends of the court. In terms of individual talent, Zalgiris is among the weakest teams in the EuroLeague. However, they function exceptionally well as a unit, and coach Maksvytis maximizes the potential of his team. All players are team-oriented, executing tasks and roles assigned to them. This style of play can make them competitive in all games throughout the season.

During the summer, Crvena Zvezda changed almost the entire team and assembled the most expensive roster in the club's history. Shabazz Napier, Milos Teodosic, Nemanja Nedovic and Yago dos Santos will form one of the deadliest backcourts in the EuroLeague, while the experience brought by Adam Hanga, Rokas Giedraitis and Dejan Davidovac is invaluable. In frontcourt, head coach Dusko Ivanovic also has many options. Mike Tobey will greatly benefit from the pick-and-roll play with Teodosic, while Luka Mitrovic and Joel Bolomboy are defensively tasked with controlling the paint. There is also the talented Marko Simonovic, who spent a few years in the Chicago Bulls program. In previous years, we were accustomed to defense being the stronger part of Crvena Zvezda, but with this much offensive potential, that will no longer be the case.

Crvena Zvezda opened the new season very dominantly. In addition to an easy win against Asvel, they demolished Cedevita Olimpija and Igokea in the ABA League, two teams projected for the top 5 in that competition. There is no doubt that the visitors have many more points in their hands in this game, but they will also need to respond defensively. Hanga and Lazic must find a way to slow down Evans, and if they do, they will achieve the most important thing in the game. Zalgiris may have an advantage in the paint with Smits and Ulanovas, but Crvena Zvezda will find a much easier way to neutralize Zalgiris' advantages than the Lithuanian team will succeed in slowing down Napier, Nedovic or Teodosic