Zalgiris left Belgrade with a road win over Crvena Zvezda (83-77), and Jonas Valanciunas has European basketball talking. Why is the September 29 clash with Olympiacos the first major test for Tomas Masiulis’ team?
Zalgiris underwent significant changes over the summer, and their first appearance in this season’s EuroLeague offered plenty to discuss, lending weight to the high positions many had given them in power rankings and tier lists. Their victory in Belgrade against a team with postseason ambitions featured several double-digit scorers and a Jonas Valanciunas already showing why his return means much more than a headline-grabbing signing. There are good reasons, then, for higher expectations in Kaunas.
Of course, the Lithuanian club faced a considerable challenge when planning their roster. Sylvain Francisco, an All-EuroLeague First Team selection last season with averages of 16.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists, departed, taking a substantial share of the team’s backcourt quality with him. The club responded by spreading responsibility across more players and adding options at different positions. That was their approach to absorbing a loss that one player alone could hardly cover.
Prolific scorer Carsen Edwards, who has averaged 14.4 points across 140 appearances in Europe’s premier competition and earned All-EuroLeague First Team honours two seasons ago, took on a significant share of the scoring load. Retaining the valuable Nigel Williams-Goss and the experienced Maodo Lo preserved continuity in the backcourt, while Saben Lee arrived after showing promise at Anadolu Efes, averaging 11.2 points and 3.1 assists per game. Sterling Brown, meanwhile, joined from Partizan, adding another reliable perimeter threat after averaging 13.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists last season.
At the same time, Marius Grigonis returned “home”, while Azuolas Tubelis stayed at Zalgirio Arena despite interest from other EuroLeague clubs following an excellent season in which he averaged 12.1 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Essentially, Masiulis gained more options while retaining a Lithuanian core familiar with the club’s demands. Making the most of those resources will, of course, require time and clearly defined roles.
Above all, though, Zalgiris brought Valanciunas back to Europe after 14 years. With one of the leading European centres of that period on their roster, they can look for consistent production around the basket and greater security on the boards. Their perimeter players now have a different target for their playmaking, with adjustments required on both sides.
The Lithuanian coach described that process after the opener. “It’s hard to say that this team is better than last season’s. We play a different style of basketball, we’re still learning to play with Valanciunas. Every game is like a final for us,” he said.
The first signs, however, were excellent. Williams-Goss combined 14 points with 6 assists, supplying both scoring and playmaking. Valanciunas added 13 points on 6-of-9 two-point shooting, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks in 21 minutes and 37 seconds, finishing with a Performance Index Rating of 24. “JV” was the beast his compatriots had been expecting. Alongside him, Tubelis recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. The Lithuanian frontcourt immediately offered tangible evidence of its potential.
With Edwards scoring 13 points and Brown adding 10, the offence found different ways to deliver. Shooting 8-of-20 from three-point range provided efficiency from distance, while an impressive 46 rebounds, including 13 on the offensive glass, reflected their work around the basket.
Valanciunas’ influence extends to the locker room, too. As his head coach explained at the press conference: “He wanted to come back and that’s proof that our organization is doing a good job. All this is new for him. He’s learning little by little. Everyone listens to him in the locker room, and he just wants to help the team win.”
Masiulis, however, tried to keep expectations in check. Asked about a potential Final Four appearance further down the line, he replied: “I don’t like it when there’s talk about the Final Four. The goal is the playoffs, we’ll see later.”
His caution makes sense: the available talent needs consistency, chemistry and the ability to withstand stronger opposition. That is precisely why Tuesday’s game on September 29 brings their first major test against the reigning European champions. Georgios Bartzokas’ Olympiacos also opened the season with a road victory, beating Baskonia 106-89. In this familiar EuroLeague matchup, the Piraeus side hold a historical 22-14 advantage and provide a demanding benchmark.
For the team from Kaunas, the challenge is to maintain the balance between the paint and the perimeter while limiting wasted possessions against opposition of this calibre. It is too early for definitive verdicts. But in Round 2 of the EuroLeague, European basketball will get its first strong indication of whether this Lithuanian team can back up the Top-6 talk.
