The first EuroLeague derby of the season comes with Partizan and Crvena zvezda heading in opposite directions. After opening the campaign with three consecutive victories, the Black and Whites have now lost three straight, while their biggest rival has recovered from two early defeats to win four games in a row. Still, when the ball goes up at Belgrade Arena on Thursday at 8:45 p.m., recent results are unlikely to be decisive.
Partizan Mozzart Bet will look to end its losing streak in front of its home crowd and regain the confidence shaken by recent performances, particularly on the offensive end. Crvena zvezda, meanwhile, arrives with one of the strongest defenses in the competition so far and growing confidence after four straight victories.
Head coach Joan Peñarroya understands what the game means to the club and its supporters, but insists his team cannot afford to make excuses, regardless of its opponent’s current form.
“This is a different kind of game. In the end, it’s a win or a loss, just like any other game, but I know it’s special for the fans. We want to win, and we’ll fight alongside our supporters to make that happen. We’ll give 100 percent. We’re ready to compete. I have 12 players, and we want to play without excuses. Zvezda has won four straight EuroLeague games, which is not easy at all. They have a great coach and play extremely well defensively”, Peñarroya said.
One of the questions ahead of the derby concerns the fitness of captain Vanja Marinković. His return to the court is still some way off, and the Spanish coach has no intention of rushing his recovery.
“I think he’s in good shape, but now he needs to practice with contact. We have to be patient with him, and he has to be patient with himself. I expect him to be ready in two to three weeks”.
Carlik Jones’ recent performances have also drawn considerable attention. The Partizan point guard has struggled to find his offensive rhythm over the past three games, coinciding with the team’s decline in results. Peñarroya, however, is unwilling to place the responsibility on one player. Instead, he believes the problem lies in the team’s inability to convert the open looks it has been generating.
“Everybody knows Carlik is an important player for us and for Partizan. But Partizan isn’t just Carlik… We need everybody. Our players are playing at a good level, and it’s clear that Carlik hasn’t scored many points in the last three games. That’s true. Opponents have focused on us in recent games, but I think we’ve played similarly to the games we were winning. We’ve missed some open shots, and we have to have the confidence to make them. Carlik is our leader and scorer, but we need the whole team, not just one individual”.
As for Crvena zvezda, the Partizan coach highlighted the physical attributes of its roster and its defensive consistency. He believes the Red and Whites have quality across multiple positions and that his team will have to respond collectively.
“They have talented players, good size and physicality, and great athletes. They play tough, consistent defense. This is a high-level team, and we shouldn’t focus on just one individual. We have to control their entire team. They’re in a very good rhythm right now and full of confidence, but we have confidence too. Tomorrow’s derby is a different game. Previous results don’t matter. This is the most important game in the city for everyone”.
Another interesting aspect of the matchup is the meeting between two Spanish coaches. Zvezda is led by Ibon Navarro, Peñarroya’s friend and compatriot, but there have been no friendly conversations ahead of their first EuroLeague Belgrade derby. The Partizan coach explained that with a smile, while making it clear what he hopes to put his colleague through on Thursday.
“As for Navarro, we haven’t spoken before this game. Zero contact! He’s a good guy and a friend of mine, but tomorrow we’ll try to ‘run him out’ of the Arena and put as much pressure on him as possible,” the Partizan coach concluded.
Stevens: Carlik Told Me It Would Be Crazy
Unlike his coach, who is familiar with the intensity of major European rivalries, Lamar Stevens will experience a Belgrade derby on the court for the first time. The American has understood since arriving in Belgrade how much these games mean to the supporters, and now he will get to experience it firsthand.
“From day one, I’ve felt the passion surrounding this rivalry. I think it’s incredible how the city is divided into two sides. That’s really interesting to me, and I think it’ll be a fun experience. I’m excited to be part of it”.
Stevens has also been preparing for what awaits him through conversations with his teammates. He was particularly intrigued by Carlik Jones’ experiences and some of the situations the point guard described from previous derbies.
“Carlik told me it was going to be crazy. He talked about situations when he was shooting free throws, with fans throwing all kinds of things onto the court and pointing lasers into players’ eyes. It sounds crazy, but fun at the same time”.
Despite his excitement about the atmosphere and everything surrounding the game, Stevens believes players cannot allow emotions to distract them from their responsibilities. For him, the approach has to remain the same regardless of the opponent.
“I think it’s a game like any other. Obviously, it means a lot to the fans, but for us, it’s important to stay professional and approach it the same way, no matter who we’re playing. Whether it’s the ABA League, Crvena zvezda or Panathinaikos, our job is to approach every game the same way”.
Stevens has been following Crvena zvezda’s results and knows the visitors will arrive at Belgrade Arena in much better form than they showed at the beginning of the season. Like his coach, he placed particular emphasis on their defensive quality.
“I saw they had some problems at the beginning of the season, but they’ve been playing well lately. They’re a very good defensive team and have a lot of talent. I think defense will be the key in this game”.
The Belgrade derby often brings additional tension on the court, but the American has no plans to think too much about potential provocations beforehand. Still, he made it clear that he would not back down if confronted.
“We’ll see what the moment brings. I don’t go into a game intending to provoke opponents, but I won’t back down either, and neither will anyone else on this team. I believe our fans will create a great atmosphere, support us and cheer us on to victory”.
Finally, Stevens addressed Partizan’s three consecutive defeats and the shooting problems that have defined its recent performances. He believes the Black and Whites have not significantly departed from the way they played at the start of the season, and that getting back to winning is largely a matter of confidence.
“No, I’ve talked to a few guys on the team, and I actually feel good. I don’t think we’ve gone away from what we were doing when we won our first three games. We just weren’t making shots. Those things happen in basketball. As long as we continue playing the way we were playing, moving the ball, shooting with confidence and playing tough defense, we’ll win a lot of games.”
Tanasković: There Are Some Positive Nerves, We Know How Important This Game Is
For Nikola Tanasković, the upcoming matchup carries additional personal significance. The Partizan forward will play his first Belgrade derby since returning to his boyhood club, and he makes no secret of his excitement ahead of a game that means so much to everyone at Partizan.
“There’s definitely excitement and some nerves, the positive kind. We know this is one of the most important games of the year. It’s always great to play in a derby and fight for your club. I think the atmosphere and mood in the locker room are good. All the guys know they have to give their maximum, and they’re aware of what’s coming. Zvezda is coming off four straight wins, and it’s up to us to respond, be as aggressive and competitive as possible, and try to use our home-court advantage”.
One of Partizan’s biggest problems in recent games has been three-point shooting. The Black and Whites have repeatedly managed to create open looks, but the shots have not been falling, making life even more difficult against opponents who have been able to impose their defensive game plans. Tanasković believes the only solution is continued work and patience.
“We went through a stretch last week when we couldn’t make a three-pointer and were shooting very poor percentages. I think that will come through hard work. We just need to put in extra effort, believe in ourselves and have confidence in our shots. I’m sure that at some point they’ll start falling and we’ll rediscover the confidence we had at the beginning of the season. That’s the only way”.
Beyond their shooting struggles, Partizan has also experienced significant lapses in recent games, particularly during the third quarter. Opponents have been able to put together major scoring runs in short stretches, with the Black and Whites struggling to respond defensively. Tanasković acknowledges that those periods have cost his team better results, but he does not want to dwell on the past ahead of the derby.
“We’re not dwelling too much on what happened. We’ve let some games slip away and had bad stretches when we allowed opponents to put together big scoring runs. Our defense dropped off at crucial moments, especially in the third quarter. That’s in the past. We’re moving on and focusing on the next game”, Tanasković concluded.
Partizan will therefore look to end its three-game losing streak on Thursday while rediscovering the offensive rhythm it showed at the beginning of the season. Its opponent is in strong form, the stakes are high, and the expectations of the supporters add even more significance to the matchup. Still, as Peñarroya and his players emphasized, the priority for the Black and Whites will be to regain confidence in their own game.
