Eurocup, round 2: KK Partizan - Lietuvos Rytas 80:91

I know this game was days ago, but do I look like I care that I’m not up-to-date?

Any time it’s about KK Partizan, I turn into a 3-year-old. I say ‘why’ at least ten times a minute. Last week Alba Berlin smashed us, now it was Lietuvos Rytas, and the Lithuanians were kind enough to deliver it for us home. (Between these two games we managed to beat Zadar in ABA Liga, but there was noting in that game to remember. On the contrary.) To be honest, originally I planned not to watch this game. Getting my nerves fucked up is a too expensive hobby for Average Fan, plus there was also a football game waiting, the one against Skenderbeu away, nerves made from rope were badly needed (finalky it ended as a goalless draw, we sweated blood, let’s just forget that match quickly and go on). This day was also CL-day, who the heck wants to watch a bored, tired team, who are so unmotivated, that if it made physical pain, the whole Belgrade would echo their screaming?...

Yes. Me. Finally I did watch it.

No, not the whole game. No way. I just had to watch football, too, at the same time, for sanity reasons. That’s one thing that most of our scores came from free throws (and not from actions) and for this the game was fragmented. But at the same time our game was so dull, boring,grey and soulless that it didn’t matter at all when I join the game and when I switch to football, because we played in the same garbage style at every point of the match with insignificant semi-talents, and it reached the level of masochism.

Either you call back Duško Vujošević, or disband the whole team, go and hoe or dig ditch.

For the facts: it was a nip-and-tuck game for 3 quarters, with a lot of mistakes on both sides. Then Lithuanians probably got bored with the fumbling and smashed into our faces hard. From 60:57 to 64:64, then 68:70… Two minutes before the end it was 74:81, then 76:86… It ended with 80:91. Ridiculous? It definitely is.

KK Partizan - Lietuvos Rytas 76:85 (Eurocup)

Another match when we absolutely didn't deserve to be defeated.
By the way, before the match Milutinov scared the hell out of the public with this photo:

(photo: mozzartsport.com)

In Pionir Hall he already had it full bald. Well, God knows, maybe he should have had this one-sided haircut even on the basketball floor. He would have scared the daylight out of Lithuanians, making them rush home as fast as they could.
Anyway, sorry, everyone. I have a very bad mood, I'm not much about joking it away. Especially after such a match, when the boys put their heart and soul out of the floor, yet the Lithuanian team took all away with a 5+3 lineup (5 field players + 3 referees).
The first quarter brought scenes that can be seen usually only at the final one. Marinković made a huge turnover, pushing the team into a counter-attack. Gagić was the Wall, the Fortress blocking the opponent’s most impossible attempts. Mačvan took the team on his back and turned himself into unstoppable.
The only problem was that the guest team led to 2:10. We missed a row of chances. They were just missed, not blocked or stolen. Mačvan then made it to 7:14, so did Milutinov from a great turnover (10:14). Lithuanians earned personal fouls instead of baskets, while BaldHead Milutinov equalized (16:16).

The end of the quarter was 16:18.
The second period brought again numerous missed chances and steals. The first score came after more than 2 minutes (16:20), and more than 4 minutes were needed for the first Partizan-basket (20:26), scored by Murić, from free throw. Dallo made an amazing, fantastic turnover and passed it to Mačvan, who didn’t hesitate (22:26), then came Partizan’s first 3-pointer by Andrić (25:28).
Also, this one.

But Lithuanians were still on the lead. We couldn’t control the match for a moment, even if it was a very exciting, spectacular game with lots of breath-taking actions and even with wrestling on the floor.

As well as with three deaf and blind referees.

Partizan turned into full force, Mačvan scored a 3-pointer (34:41), the half time result was 32:38.
After the break Milutinov scored (34:41), Marinković also threw a 3-pointer (37:43), but the difference was soon double digit (37:47). The Lithuanians even made it to 37:49, which was reduced to 39:49 by the Tepić-Andrić axis. There were still 10 points between the two teams. Tepić took a deep breath and brought up Partizan to 45:51, making a 7-point series. We even made it to 50:54, thanks to Mačvan and Milutinović.

Yet whenever we approached the opponent to 4 points, something immediately happened. A personal foul or anything else that earned a free throw for Lietuvos, increasing the difference.
The atmosphere was great though. (Later one of Lietuvos’s American players tweeted this.)

54:58 (Murić), 56:60 (Milutinović), that was the best we could afford. The end of the quarter was 58:64, even if Dallo threw a basket that happens only once in a century, from our (!) 3-pointer line and scored!!! But the referees kept themselves to the standpoint that the ball touched the ring after the buzz, making Dallo’s score invalid.

The last quarter was similar to the previous ones. Partizan players were fighting like lions, in exchange Milutinov was fouled out, nobody knew why (maybe not even the referees). Meanwhile it was 62:75, Partizan could score only from free throws. Finally Andrić threw a field goal, not just an average one, but a 3-pointer (69:78), but it brought an instant free throw to the Lithuanian team (69:79). Murić made a giant slam dunk (71:79), Mačvan also brought 2 points (74:83), we kept on fighting, not collapsing even in the very last seconds. Finally Gagić scored the last basket from free throw (76:85).

KK Partizan: Tepić (8), Murić (14), Marinković (3), Dallo (2), Milutinov (8), Mačvan (22), Gagić (8), Andrić (6), Milutinović (5)
Lietuvos Rytas: Leslie (12), Dambrauskas, Juškevičius (8), Lukauskis, Baron (2), Šeškus, Valeika, Gecevičius (17), Orelik (21), Kavaliauskas (23), Moser (2)

(unmarked images: Facebook/KK Partizan, Google)

Lietuvos Rytas - KK Partizan NIS 92:65 (Eurocup Round 1)

It took this long to pick myself together to be able to write something about last night. Again a big slap, right on our face. The Lithuanian team's advantage was out of question for the whole time, and yes, Duško Vujošević's prediction came true. These almost 30 points are still a low blow for everyone.
I'll be honest: I can't really say anything about it. Every moment of the game was like a torture, the team couldn't find the pace, while Lithuanians were ruthless. It says all that in the 4th quarter the head coach yelled the whole team off.

The facial expression of Andrić, Bezbradica and Milutinov says it all as well...
In the first quarter we could somehow keep the pace, but even then the opponent was ahead of us. For the second part they were already miles away, their advantage was 20 points in the half time.
Let's not talk about the rest.

Coming up: Lietuvos Rytas - KK Partizan NIS Eurocup match tomorrow

Tomorrow at 18:30 Partizan's basketball team plays against Rytas of Lithuania. Second trainer Velimir Gašić analyzed the situation.
- The opponent’s team is very thoroughly re-built. Eight new players arrived at them in the summer break. Rytas use the classic elements of Lithuanian basketball. They operate with a lot of distant, 3-pointer shots and they are excellent in counter-attacks, especially at the first stage of the game.
- They have 3 American players, one of them, Travis Leslie is the backbone of the team - Gašić continued. - Beside him there is Baron and Moser. All three of them have excellent qualities. Juškevičius, Gecevičius, Orelik and Kavaliauskas are all similarly qualified players.
As for Duško Vujošević, he thinks the odds are with the Lithuanian team.
- We'll give the maximum, but concerning our overall situation, we should be prepared to lose, too - the head coach said, pointing on the team having no more of their former key players, while the club's financial situation is still the same. - We are aware of our limitations, but we will not give up our dreams.

Match will be broadcasted live by ArenaSport 1.