Match Preview
It looks like Partizan are starting to pay the price for their relatively short roster, having lost their last two EuroLeague contests quite convincingly. Can they turn things around against Fenerbahce in Istanbul?
Fenerbahce Recovered From Athens Defeat
Fenerbahce have made a good start to the new EuroLeague season, claiming four victories in five appearances and currently sitting in 3rd place.
After winning all three of their home games against Virtus Bologna 78-68, Bayern Munich 100-76 and Dubai 76-66, the Yellow Canaries suffered a heavy 92-74 loss to Panathinaikos in Athens last week, largely due to a high number of turnovers (17).
Their arguably best performance so far came on Tuesday, when they outclassed Lithuanian champions Zalgiris Kaunas 99-80. Their two-point shooting was excellent, with 24 of 35 attempts finding the target, while Shavon Shields was named man of the match with 17 points.
Partizan Showing Signs of Fatigue
Partizan made an outstanding start to the new season, claiming three consecutive victories against Milano 92-76, Paris 92-79 and Bayern Munich 86-84, with Carlik Jones doing an excellent job in those encounters. However, their form now appears to be declining rapidly.
Their first defeat of the new campaign came in the fourth round last week, when they were nowhere near upsetting Real Madrid, losing 86-76. They failed to recover from a poor first half, while their free-throw shooting was also disappointing (17/27).
Joan Penarroya’s side looked unrecognizable on Tuesday when they hosted Panathinaikos, losing convincingly 72-55 to the Greek giants. The Black and Whites shot a disastrous 33% from the field, making just four of their 26 three-point attempts.