Baskonia have started the EuroLeague season with a 1-5 record, with Velimir Perasovic returning to the bench and Markus Howard leaving the club. The Spanish side are searching for a fresh start, but their defeat against Virtus Bologna showed that their problems cannot be solved overnight.
When a team decides to change its head coach this early in the season, there are usually serious concerns about its performances and the direction it is heading. In Baskonia’s case, however, the situation is even more complicated. The Spanish club have not only changed their coaching staff but also parted ways with one of their most important players of recent years. Paolo Galbiati has left, Markus Howard is no longer part of the roster, and Velimir Perasovic has returned to Vitoria to take charge of a team that urgently needs results, but above all, a clearer identity.
The Croatian coach’s first game back on Baskonia’s bench ended in defeat, with Virtus Bologna claiming an 86-78 victory and leaving the visitors at 1-5. However, the final score does not fully explain what happened during the game, as Baskonia showed two completely different sides. Virtus opened with a 12-0 run, led 46-34 at halftime and maintained control until the end of the third quarter, when they were ahead 68-53. Baskonia then responded strongly in the final period and managed to level the score at 74-74, but failed to make the right decisions in the closing minutes to complete the comeback.
This lack of consistency is perhaps the clearest indication of the problems Baskonia are currently facing. They are capable of producing good stretches, increasing their defensive intensity and recovering from significant deficits, but they have struggled to maintain the same level of performance throughout an entire game. Against Virtus, for example, they managed to erase a 17-point deficit, only to lose their rhythm again when the game entered its decisive phase. Marcus Carr, with 20 points, and Aliou Diarra, with 16, led the Italian side and helped them take advantage of Baskonia’s mistakes.
Perasovic now faces the challenge of establishing a different foundation for the remainder of the season, with greater emphasis on defense and a more controlled offensive approach. However, implementing those changes takes time, particularly in a competition where the demanding schedule leaves very little room for proper training and tactical adjustments. Baskonia need to develop greater cohesion, limit their poor stretches and find a better balance between individual talent and collective execution.
At the same time, Howard’s departure represents another important change in the team’s offensive structure. The American guard leaves after 244 official appearances for Baskonia, having established himself as one of the club’s most notable scorers and three-point shooters in recent years. Although his role had become limited at the beginning of this season, losing a player with such specific offensive qualities inevitably changes the distribution of responsibilities within the roster.
Of course, Baskonia still have time to react, with the season only in its early stages and plenty of games remaining in the regular season. Nevertheless, their 1-5 record has already created pressure, and every additional defeat makes the situation more difficult. Perasovic has a demanding task ahead of him, while the players must quickly adapt to a different approach. Changing the coach may be the beginning of an improvement, but it is not a solution by itself. If Baskonia want to turn their season around, they will have to change what happens on the court as well.
