Partizan's defense stands out, but the offense remains a problem

Partizan has 4 wins and 5 losses after nine rounds. According to Hoopwise data, the biggest share of this record belongs to the defense. The defense is balancing out the problems on offense.

Under Joan Peñarroya, the team has played a defense-focused game plan since the start of the season. Antonio Reeves, Luca Vildoza and Ethan Thompson were expected to contribute on offense, but they have not yet shown it fully in Euroleague. Thompson, despite playing well in the ABA League, is still searching for his best form. Carlik Jones is at the center of the offense, and he was named MVP of a round.

After the first eight games, Partizan's offensive rating of 108.1 is the lowest in the league, tied with Baskonia. Baskonia has only one win in the elite stage. Partizan is the worst team in the league in three-point shooting and free throws. With Jones on the court, the offensive rating is 110.6, but when he sits, it drops to 103.2. In the last two games, when ASVEL and Zalgiris stopped Jones, Partizan's offensive production weakened noticeably.

On defense, Vildoza stands out with 18 steals and Alessandro Pajola with 11. In steal rate, they rank first and eighth in Euroleague. Kevarrius Hayes provides protection in the paint and is considered one of Europe's best rim protectors. His block on Chris Jones pushed the Crvena zvezda derby into overtime, and the win that followed is the one fans value most. When Pajola and Vildoza are on the court together, the defensive rating is 96.5. That is a level no team can sustain over a whole season. Four games in Belgrade will be important if Partizan wants a positive record by round 13.