Time to Address Partizan’s Offense: Red Star Emerge as Big Double-Week Winners While Itoudis Stuns Serbian Coaches

Partizan assembled a true battle-tested squad this summer, loaded with tremendous defensive potential—players eager to prove their belonging in the EuroLeague by scrapping for every loose ball and giving everything on the floor. However, the time has come to discuss their offensive ceiling. The black-and-whites emerged from the second double-round week with back-to-back defeats against Panathinaikos in Belgrade and Fenerbahce in Istanbul, two fixtures that laid bare all of Partizan's offensive limitations and vulnerabilities.

Through the opening three rounds against Olimpia Milano, Bayern Munich, and Paris Basketball, Carlik Jones played out of his skin while three-point percentages remained strong (averaging between 9 and 11 triples per game). Everything looked like a dream for the black-and-whites: intense, suffocating defense, smooth ball movement, open looks, and Jones delivering clutch heroics when the pressure mounted. Capping it off with three straight wins marked the best EuroLeague start in the club's history. But then came the trip to Real Madrid, followed by showdowns with Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce. When confronted with European basketball's absolute elite, the cracks began to show.

Focusing strictly on the Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce fixtures, opponents successfully devised schemes to contain Carlik Jones, three-point shooting plummeted, and Partizan's offense stalled completely. Over the course of those two games, they managed a meager combined total of just 120 points.

Jones is undoubtedly world-class and ranks among the finest floor generals in Europe today, but he cannot carry the load alone. When off-nights occur—like the one in Istanbul—or when opposing defenses constantly throw aggressive double-teams at him, others must step up, most notably Ethan Thompson, Luca Vildoza, and Kyle Allman. That support has yet to materialize. While Thompson has shown progress and increased his scoring output, his adaptation to European basketball remains a work in progress. Meanwhile, Vildoza and Allman, despite their defensive commitment, are still searching for the offensive rhythm they enjoyed at previous stops.

This brings us to the reinforcements Partizan sorely need. The backcourt is less of a concern, as Vildoza and Allman should eventually hit their stride, but the wing positions require immediate attention. A sharpshooting small forward who offers a dependable release valve on kick-out passes or short-roll situations, paired with a stretch big capable of spacing the floor—much like Dylan Osetkowski did last season—represents the bare minimum Partizan need right now.

With those pieces in place, along with greater scoring production from Vildoza, Allman, and Thompson and a healthy Carlik Jones, Partizan could legitimately set their sights on the postseason. That hinges, of course, on maintaining an elite defensive standard and unwavering intensity. If those roster additions fail to materialize, however, Jones's individual brilliance and the team's relentless grit may not be enough.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet stand out as one of the biggest winners of this double-round week. With back-to-back victories over ASVEL and Paris, they extended their winning streak to four games, improved to 4-2, and climbed to fifth in the EuroLeague standings. Alongside Virtus, Zvezda are currently the hottest team in the competition—a remarkable turnaround after a portion of the fanbase had written them off following losses in the opening two rounds.

Now that the dust has settled on the double week, it is evident that Zvezda took major strides forward against ASVEL and Paris.

First and foremost, they took care of business against opponents they were favored to beat. In previous campaigns, these were precisely the slip-ups that derailed their playoff ambitions and cost them dearly in the standings. While neither win came easily—having to dig deep against both ASVEL and Paris—Zvezda showed character in the decisive moments. As a result, they head into Thursday's Eternal Derby on October 22 riding high on confidence, with another double week against Maccabi and Bayern looming shortly after. If these two triumphs provide a psychological boost to match the points on the board, the red-and-whites are well positioned to keep climbing. The schedule through the end of October is relatively manageable, presenting Zvezda with a prime opportunity to cement their place among the upper echelon.

Another major highlight from Zvezda's week was the outstanding display by Chima Moneke, who tallied 41 combined points and proved instrumental in both victories. While it is best to avoid premature conclusions, Moneke appears more composed and is channeling his energy effectively. While his defense remains open to debate, his offensive rhythm was sensational, shooting 6-of-8 from beyond the arc and 6-of-11 from two-point range, often during explosive scoring bursts. Maintaining that consistency will be the real test, but there is no question Zvezda thrive when Moneke catches fire offensively.

Aside from the ongoing shooting struggles of Tyson Carter and Nick Weiler-Babb, head coach Ibon Navarro has far more reasons for optimism than concern. Both Jordan Nwora and Carter spearheaded the offense effectively, Patrick Baldwin is settling into the rotation, the team defense remains resolute, and Semi Ojeleye continues to plug gaps everywhere. Meanwhile, Chris Jones reaffirmed his clutch pedigree with the game-winner against ASVEL, while the domestic core delivered crucial contributions. Following standout displays by Dobric and Davidovac in previous outings, Nikola Djurisic stepped up against Paris with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, alongside four rebounds and an assist.

Navigating injuries and a grueling calendar on multiple fronts makes it crucial for Navarro to have contributors who can step into the spotlight at any moment. Djurisic did just that against Paris, providing an instant spark during his 15 minutes on the floor. He crashed the boards relentlessly, committed smart fouls, and played lockdown defense, proving to Navarro that he is fully ready for a steady role in the rotation after his injury setbacks.

All told, there is plenty of optimism at Mali Kalemegdan. Once Navarro tightens the screws further, this roster has the makings of a genuine postseason contender, even in what is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely competitive EuroLeague seasons in recent memory.

Hapoel Tel Aviv may have opened the season with a shock defeat to Bayern Munich, but Dimitris Itoudis's squad has shifted into high gear through six rounds and looks ready to roll over opponents.

Over the past week, Itoudis first outdueled Dusan Alimpijevic's Besiktas in a 100-82 victory before traveling to Athens to hand Zeljko Obradovic's Panathinaikos their first defeat of the season in a 91-81 statement win.

Given the roster Hapoel assembled this summer, their surge comes as no surprise. On paper, Itoudis boasts arguably the deepest lineup in the competition outside of Panathinaikos, featuring Vasilije Micic, Elijah Bryant, Zach LeDay, Daniel Oturu, Tomas Satoransky, Amir Coffey, and Antonio Blakeney. Currently sitting sixth with a 6-2 record alongside Crvena Zvezda, their performances this past week suggest they are only just getting started.

As for Alimpijevic and Obradovic, both experienced mixed fortunes this week; Besiktas bounced back from their loss to Hapoel by defeating Bayern, while Panathinaikos overcame Partizan at Belgrade Arena prior to their clash with Itoudis.

VIDEO: Red Star Down Resilient Paris to Extend Winning Streak!