Black-and-Whites Look to Heal Lyon Wounds in Kaunas: Where and When to Watch Zalgiris vs Partizan

"It's a different game, a different team, and different players. They have several outstanding players: Evans, Valanciunas, Tubelis, and Sleva. It is an experienced squad. Playing in Kaunas is never easy because of the atmosphere. We have to be better; yesterday we had a poor final four or five minutes, but that is basketball. We've analyzed everything, and tomorrow we have another opportunity to compete," said Joan Penarroya.

"There are no surprises. We need to play well and shut down their low-post game, especially Valanciunas. They are a great rebounding team, so we'll have to pay close attention to that as well. And naturally, as in every game, we must control the tempo. Valanciunas is vital for them—he is one of the premier centers in the EuroLeague. Their low-post game around him is essential for Zalgiris. But he's not their only weapon. They have Edwards, who is a great scorer, Sterling played well in the previous game, and they have a new point guard in Evans. They are a playoff-contending team that feeds off the energy of their home crowd," Penarroya added.

"First and foremost, we need to recover. You can't change much in 48 hours, so physical regeneration is the priority. Of course, the opponent plays a slightly different brand of basketball—more disciplined. Much of their play revolves around their guards; sometimes they have nearly three playmakers on the floor at once, so containing them will be crucial," Tomas Masiulis noted.

"Naturally, there are still unknowns. Certain players started the season, while others are being integrated now. They will improve day by day, so we have to prepare well and understand their strengths, as well as what they look and like to do on the floor," said Tomas Masiulis.