Three consecutive losses to Real Madrid, Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce left Partizan needing a response in the Belgrade derby. The victory over Crvena Zvezda came after a hard-fought contest, and a few days later, the black-and-whites also defeated Spartak in Subotica. They now head to Lyon to face ASVEL in a much better frame of mind. Joan Peñarroya’s team has a realistic chance to extend its winning run against ASVEL and build on its recent results.
Unlike Partizan’s previous EuroLeague opponents, some of whom are among the leading contenders for the title, Tony Parker’s team belongs to a group of opponents the Serbian club has good reason to believe it can beat. Despite a difficult start to the season, ASVEL has shown genuine offensive quality, particularly when its outside shooting gets going.
The trip to France opens another EuroLeague double-round week, with a visit to Zalgiris in Kaunas following on Friday. After demanding games against Zvezda and Spartak, Peñarroya must find enough energy in a roster that is still missing several players to get through two challenging road games.
Reeves Made an Immediate Impact in Subotica
The game in Subotica showed just how hard Partizan still has to work for its victories. Against the reigning Serbian champion, which ended the long-standing dominance of the country’s two biggest clubs last season, the black-and-whites had to overcome a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. They eventually won 82-80 thanks to a midrange jumper by Antonio Reeves in the closing stages. Having only just arrived in Belgrade and begun getting to know his teammates and Peñarroya’s system, Reeves was already trusted to decide a close game. The American finished with 11 points and showed how valuable another reliable shooter could be for Partizan.
Partizan has struggled from the perimeter so far in the EuroLeague, shooting just 29.4 percent from three through seven rounds. Reeves was signed specifically to help address that weakness. He can make shots in a variety of situations, particularly coming off screens, and his presence could force opposing defenses to account for another perimeter threat.
The South Sudan international Carlik Jones remains the focal point of Partizan’s offense, expected to run the team and take responsibility in the most important moments. Defenses devote much of their attention to him whenever he is on the floor. With Reeves, Partizan should have another dependable perimeter option capable of punishing opponents when they focus too heavily on Jones.
That could also ease the burden on Luca Vildoza and Alessandro Pajola, who have become important pieces of Peñarroya’s defensive system through the first seven rounds. Their pressure on opposing guards and the energy they put into defense have been central to Partizan’s play. More offensive options in the rotation would give the Spanish coach greater flexibility in distributing responsibilities while preserving their impact at the other end of the floor.
The Defense Has Been Carrying More Than the Offense
Partizan’s defense has been considerably more effective than its offense. The black-and-whites are allowing an average of 79 points per game, among the best marks in the EuroLeague, while scoring just 78.7, the lowest average in the competition.
Reeves has said he came to Belgrade to contribute with his shooting and that his teammates welcomed him like family, making his first days in a new environment easier. Still, encouraging as his debut was, one game is not enough to judge how quickly he can adjust to the demands of EuroLeague basketball. Robert Franks, Partizan’s other new signing, also faces an adjustment period after arriving from a brief spell with Nanjing in China. The American has already been registered for EuroLeague play, making him available against ASVEL, although Peñarroya has yet to decide whether to give him his debut. Franks’ experience and ability to stretch the floor from the power forward position provide another option for a roster that had been missing that type of player.
His arrival is particularly important given Partizan’s problems in the frontcourt. Derrick Willis and Tonye Jekiri are not yet ready to return, while captain Vanja Marinković, who has resumed practicing with the team, will also miss the game in Lyon. Peñarroya has indicated that Marinković could return next week, while the timelines for the other two injured players remain uncertain.
ASVEL’s Ambitions Were Much Bigger Than Its Final Budget
The French club entered the summer with considerable ambitions. Tony Parker, who took over as head coach while retaining his role as president, planned to build a roster capable of competing at a much higher level in the EuroLeague. The initially announced €59 million budget was supposed to support major investments, but financial restrictions and problems with investor guarantees forced the club to scale back its plans substantially. The budget was ultimately reduced to approximately €24 million.
Instead of a roster that could approach Europe’s biggest clubs in spending, Parker now has a team led by veterans Patty Mills and Jae Crowder, alongside Hugo Besson, Tremont Waters, Both Gach and Joel Bolomboy.
ASVEL has won just two of its first seven games and enters the Partizan matchup on a three-game EuroLeague losing streak. Parker has yet to find the right balance, particularly on defense. The French side is allowing 96.7 points per game, the worst mark in the competition. At the same time, ASVEL leads the EuroLeague in three-point percentage at 41.8 percent and in assists, averaging 21.7 per game. ASVEL can swing a game with quick bursts of three-point shooting. Partizan will therefore need to limit the hosts’ perimeter shooting, a task that could be particularly important for Vildoza and Pajola.
Lyon Is Also an Opportunity for Partizan’s Offense
Against one of the EuroLeague’s most vulnerable defenses, Partizan also has an opportunity to improve its own offensive output. Reeves’ arrival, the possible inclusion of Franks and the additional perimeter options should help reduce the team’s reliance on Carlik Jones’ individual shot creation. Partizan has produced some impressive performances on the French club’s home floor in recent years, including convincing victories of 88-62 and 93-62.
ASVEL defeated Partizan 88-87 last November, another painful setback for Željko Obradović’s team at the time. By then, the problems had clearly mounted, and just 12 days later, following a defeat to Panathinaikos in Athens, Partizan parted ways with Europe’s most decorated coach. It was one of the most difficult periods in Partizan’s recent history. The club now returns to the same road fixture with a new coach and a team still searching for a steady rhythm.
Victories over Crvena Zvezda and Spartak have given Peñarroya some much-needed breathing room, but his team has not yet reached the level of consistency he is seeking. The absence of important players has made his job more difficult, while the newcomers need practice time and games to adjust to the demands of their new surroundings.
Partizan’s defense has held up through its last two wins, but keeping that run going will require more from the offense. ASVEL will provide an early test of how much Reeves and potentially Franks can help.
