"Don't cry over Codi!" Vlade Đurović pulls out a list of 14 players better than him: He's not EuroLeague elite!
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In his regular analysis, Đurović pointed to an evident drop in form that has been ongoing since mid-February.
"Many players were average—Codi, Butler, Nwora were all average—and this dip in form has been going on for a long time, ever since the cup in Niš... Last year, Zvezda also had a slump after the Cup, although perhaps it wasn't as drastic under the Greek coach, but it was similar," Đurović began.
While fans are already speculating about the roster for next season, Đurović was quite direct regarding the status of the red-and-whites' starting point guard. According to him, Codi is not the player around whom championship ambitions should be built.
"Zvezda fans shouldn't cry if McIntyre leaves. Only for Zvezda fans and certain journalists does he belong to the elite tier of EuroLeague point guards. He is not that."
To support his claim, Đurović literally took out a piece of paper and read a long list of names he considers to be ahead of Zvezda's playmaker.
"Carlik Jones, Nunn, Sloukas, James, Calathes, Okobo, Robinson, Forrest, Grant, Montero, Shorts, Williams-Goss, Francisco, Heurtel—they are all better than him. Not in physical strength, but as creators. Zvezda needs a player who can facilitate. Unfortunately, I thought Butler could be that guy."
"Zvezda has no leader; Carlik has stepped up for Partizan"
Special emphasis was placed on the lack of "personality" on the court. Đurović drew a parallel with their eternal rival, as well as with legendary point guards from the past, stressing that Zvezda is missing someone like Nick Calathes.
"McIntyre isn't the personality who can rally the players and say, 'we have to do this and that.' The leader was Đerđa in Zadar, Daneu for the national team and Olimpija, Kićanović in Partizan... Aca Petrović at Cibona, where Dražen was by far the best player, but Aca was the leader, surrounded by nine national team players. You need a personality to lead. Carlik has established himself at Partizan. And imagine if Zvezda had Carlik, they would be much better. But they would also be better with Calathes, believe me. Calathes can't score as much as McIntyre, but the ball movement would be better, the game would be better, he would get the team involved."
In closing, Đurović concluded that the team, despite its talent, failed to find answers in the season's key moments and that a deep analysis is necessary before the transfer window.
"We all overrated Zvezda's players. Everyone thinks Moneke is better than he is, Butler too, McIntyre... McIntyre scored points, but when? Against Barcelona, Partizan, and even Maccabi when it no longer mattered. Zvezda's players like Nwora and Butler are not to be underestimated, nor is McIntyre, but when the games are important, Zvezda doesn't have a player who will step up, take the initiative, take the ball, and score four in a row. We don't have that. A deep analysis must be made," concluded Vlade Đurović.
VIDEO: Zvezda loses and 'finds a new coach' on the same night: Kalinić seems to have a new role on the court alongside Obradović!
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