BallinEurope is previewing all 18 Euroleague Basketball teams over the next 18 days. We’ve already talked you through an interesting looking Crvena Zvezda, an awful LDLC Asvel, and a surprisingly stable Maccabi Tel Aviv. Today it’s the turn of Zeljko Obradovic’s Partizan who feature a big new addition in Frank Kaminsky
The expectations are high. The changes are small in number but substantial in impact. The hope is obvious but will Zeljko Obradovic and Partizan deliver?
Last season
Euroleague record: 20-14
Regular season position: 6th
Playoffs: Lost 3-2 (Real Madrid)
ABA Liga record: 24-2
Regular season position: 1st
Playoffs: Won finals 3-2 (Crvena Zvezda)
Other: Lost Serbian Cup semi final (Crvena Zvezda)
Who’s gone?
Dante Exum (Dallas Mavericks, NBA), Mathias Lessort (Panathinaikos), Ioannis Papapetrou (Panathinaikos), Yam Madar (Fenerbahce).
Who is new?
Frank Kaminsky (Houston Rockets, NBA), PJ Dozier (Sacramento Kings, NBA), Mateusz Ponitka (Panathinaikos), Ognjen Jaramaz (Bayern Munich).
Who stayed?
Zeljko Obradovic (coach), James Nunnally, Zach LeDay, Kevin Punter, Aleksa Avramovic, Baisa Koprivica, Alen Smalagic, Tristen Vukcevic, Danilo Andjusic.
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Need to know
The idea of Zeljko Obradovic coaching either Frank Kaminsky or Mateusz Ponitka is fascinating. With the former, you’re talking about a man who is big and can get buckets but can he adapt to the style of Euroleague? Frank Kaminsky couldn’t ask for a better teacher, that’s for sure. With Ponitka? He’s always felt like he delivered more in a Poland jersey than any club one. If any coach can get him to replicate that national team form at club level, say it with me, it’s Zeljko Obradovic.
There’s also going to be a lot of questions about how exactly Obradovic changes things up after the departure of Mathias Lessort. It feels like while the overall moves, in terms of incoming and outgoings, are a net positive, this side would benefit from an athletic banger.
One more thing. These fans are amazing and a Partizan home game should be on your bucket list.
What the bookies think
My general disdain for how the sportsbooks have priced this Euroleague Basketball season is starting to show. Partizan are currently 15/1, which seems reasonable if generous in basketball betting. Then you realise that means sportsbooks have them in 9th place. That simply won’t do.
What we think
This is a very good basketball team that is capable of making the final four. It’s not quite great yet, which is fine for September. The only trophies won at this time of year, with my apologies to the Intercontinental Cup, are those awful supercups.
I expect Partizan to start steadily if not explosively but to pick up steam as the season progresses. They should be more than good enough to reach the same number of wins as last season and maybe go slightly better. Then come the playoffs and there’s an element of unfinished business.
Fearless prediction
Well, this is definitely going to make it easier for people to guess who our surprise picks to not make the playoffs are. Partizan look like a team capable of doing more than just about getting into the playoffs. I don’t have them quite good enough for a place in the top four of the Euroleague Basketball regular season but they are good enough to secure a winnable series.
Pick: 6th place in the regular season
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