IN THE GAME

Cibona went into the game unbeaten in Euroleague play but had suffered three losses already in the NLB, while Crvena Zvezda was 5-0. That was about to change, with Cibona running away with the early lead and eventually winning 86:63. This game is a perfect example of how statistics often do not tell much: the dominant player was without a single doubt Cibona’s veteran big man Nikola Prkacin, albeit finishing with only 7 points.Key player: Nikola Prkacin
Nikola Prkacin gave an impressive display of his great court vision and passing skills out of his position on the right block. Yes, the big man was accounted for five assists, but few does it tell about how dominating his performance really was. He was at the heart of almost every single play, attacking, drawing double teams, dishing it to his teammates perfectly and thus creating a lot of open looks for his teammates. Few of them were direct assists, but many of his passes created space and enabled the perimeter players to swing the ball around and find open shots easily. Apart from his passing, the move that probably documents his high basketball-IQ most impressively occurred in the second quarter, when he realised his defender anticipated his move around a cross screen, he faked going around the screen but immediately cut back and received the pass from his teammate for the easy layup. Prkacin always had an answer for what the guests threw at him and even though he will not be able to dominate as much physically against Euroleague teams as he did against Crvena Zvezda, his skillset remains dangerous for many opponents.

Link: Nikola Prkacin’s 08/09 Euroleague statistics

Below: Nikola Prkacin vs. Crvena Zvezda on Youtube

To watch: Rawle Marshall
Complementing his teammates’ attributes very well, the lean American swingman born 1982 is a perfect fit for Cibona Zagreb. Rawle Marshall played minor minutes in the NBA for the Dallas Mavericks and Indiana Pacers before making an impact in the D-League and finally signing for BC Hemofarm in summer 2007. While many overseas imports struggle big time in their first year in Europe, Marshall made an immediate impact, leading the Serbian club into ULEB-Cup’s last 16 in 07/08.
Against Crvena Zvezda, he gave a nice display of his impressive athleticism, good scoring and decent allround skills. Marshall used his wingspan to deflect passes, leading to easy baskets on the offensive end and resembling a bit of his fellow countryman Josh Childress on defense – not just because of the hairstyle. On offense, Marshall showed he can play disciplined halfcourt basketball. He willingly shared the ball, was patient in getting into the right positions and made open shots off the setplay on a high percentage. Additionally, coach Velimir Perasovic trusts him in one on one situations. Marshall showed nice ability to take his opponent off the dribble against Crvena Zvezda, both making the contested three pointer and driving to the hole. The 2.02m small forward showed nice court vision attacking the paint, dishing it to the open teammate instead of forcing it too much inside and potentially getting the offensive foul call.
Marshall needs to learn not to force the issue too much against stronger Euroleague opposition, but even if he might never make it to CSKA, Panathinaikos or back to the NBA, he definitely has the chance to make a lot of bucks in Europe if he continues playing like he has done so far in his short European career. Watch out for Russian clubs or ACB teams to make a move for Marshall when his one-year-contract expires next summer.

Link: Rawle Marshall’s 08/09 Euroleague statistics

Below: Rawle Marshall vs. Crvena Zvezda on Youtube

The rest: Calloway, Rozic and others
Cibona had a nice team effort: Earl Calloway gave a solid display a the point, not forcing the issue too much and rather trying to get the ball into the right spots instead. Calloway is a decent scorer and it speaks for the player that he quickly understood scoring was not what the team needed from him on that day. Marin Rozic brought a lot of energy of the bench. The forward had several fastbreak baskets including a three point play in the second half. Vedran Vukusic was excellent as well, hitting making to shots from downtown, playing intelligent basketball off Nikola Prkacin. Vedran Princ is another tool off the bench, a pesky defender who can be used as a stopper on opposing point- and comboguards. Davor Kus meanwhile did not what he is expceted to do: Hit perimeter shots on a high percentage. The former Unicaja guard had a rather average game. For the guests, point guard Marko Marinovic seemed to be the only player willing to fight with Cibona. Young big men Elmedin Kikanovic, reconvalescent Tadija Dragicevic and Milan Milosevic hit several baskets but the statistics hide that the trio was absolutely overpowed by the dominant Nikola Prkacin inside. The US-duo of Andre Owens and big man Lawrence Roberts was ineffective. While Owens at least had several nice moves towards the basket, Roberts’ perfomance was erratic. Not what Svetislav Pesic expects from the big man born 1982, who had a strange stint with Olympiacos in 2007, when he was signed by the Greek powerhouse but never played a game for them and was released three months later.