Carlik Jones reminded us why he’s the daddy in the Belgrade derby but this should never have been so close. Partizan’s superstar delivered big against Crvena Zvezda in Euroleague but concerns remain over how dependent Joan Penarroya’s side are on him, writes Emmet Ryan.
Dads are great. I’d even go so far as to say they’re important. My Dad, may he rest in peace, was a great lad. Tonight, in Belgrade, Carlik Jones looked the most Dad of a player for better or worse since Johannes Thiemann.
The thing about Dads, as opposed to uncles like me, is that they can lead by example but also show it’s ok to fail. Eventually, they know they have to let the kids loose without them to catch them.
On this Euroleague night, we saw that Partizan aren’t quite sure what to do with that last part. Like a good Dad, Carlik Jones was able to pick up the pieces and get his side over the line against Crvena Zvezda in the Belgrade derby.
Setting a good example
There was so much to like about Partizan through the first three quarters and Carlik Jones was the key reason why. After an impressive first quarter, he went left into contact early in the second for a righty finish.
The sloppy turnover that came soon after wasn’t ideal. Yet a good Dad knows it’s important to show the youngsters that it’s alright to make mistakes so long as you pick yourself up and try again. A Spanish pick and role for a dime settled things again.
Thinking back to the version of Partizan that Jones first joined. That was a team that didn’t know how to react when things went wrong. Jones showed that these things inevitably happen and you go again. He connected on a lovely step back after creating space as Partizan looked to be cruising to a much-needed Euroleague win.
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This is fine
With a 14 point lead at the break, Partizan looked poised to demolish Crvena Zvezda in front of a raucous crowd. Carlik Jones was a big reason why. First he drew a foul from Semi Ojeleye with the shot clock almost gone on a blown play. Then came a chasedown block on a blown play.
This was all looking so good. Just as things started to look shaky, there he was with a score to push the lead back to 13 points. It wasn’t just Jones, it should be said. Kevarrius Hayes had an extraordinary night. His 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks came with just 1 foul committed and none through the first three quarters.
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So, about that
Carlik Jones sat early in the fourth quarter, with Partizan up 65-50. Everything fell to pieces. A 16-6 run for Crvena Zvezda eventually made Joan Penarroya call Jones back into the action. He was far from perfect on his reintroduction but it was hard to blame him.
Movement matters at all levels of basketball. Jones having to work with statues offensively was a recipe for disaster in Euroleague. Yet he just about found a way. After falling into a hole in overtime, Jones tied it up. Then Zvezda went up by 4, so Jones went to work narrowing the gap again.
Down three later and a Daddy’s here three from Jones tied things up. Don’t worry kids, Carlik’s here to fix it all. He finally got the movement he needed on the final offensive set before the ball worked its way to Alessandro Pajola for the game winning three.
Listen
Partizan got the win and ended their losing streak in Euroleague. Carlik Jones had an impressive 26 points with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Kevarrious Hayes was clearly impressive. Still, it should never have been this close.
The utter lack of movement by Partizan the moment Jones sat in the fourth simply isn’t acceptable. If I wasn’t in a desperately posh pub in Dublin watching the game, I’d have been screaming at Joan Penarroya through my laptop to fix it.
Even when he came back, things didn’t improve until the last moments that mattered. Jones is exactly what this Partizan side needs to be relevant. Beating a Crvena Zvezda side that played this poorly for 30 minutes shouldn’t have asked so much of him in the 15 that followed.
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