Crvena zvezda Opens Preseason with a 102-68 Win over Mladost: Telling Numbers and Tactical Blind Spots

In an empty Aleksandar Nikolić Hall, the sound of the basketball bouncing on the parquet floor echoed like an old film. Crvena zvezda had just crushed Mladost 102-68, a 34-point victory so easy that no one was surprised. But I – a person who has spent ten years observing European basketball – see more mysteries than answers here. Every result is a deliberate lie; this match, with all its impressive numbers, may be hiding another story. The context of this game is vital. It was the first closed-door friendly of Crvena zvezda’s preparation for the 2026/2026 season, played on August 13, 2026. The home team was missing six key players: Dobrić, Davidovac, Đurišić, Moneke, Izundu, and Kramer. No official reason was given, but in preseason, key players are often rested, treated for minor injuries, or away on national team duty. Their opponent, Mladost, is a lower-tier Serbian club, not at the same level as a top European side like Crvena zvezda. However, the 102-68 win is not just a number. It came from a team that shared the ball effectively. Two guards, Javonte Jones and Rihards Wailer-Babb, each recorded 8 assists – an impressive figure suggesting an offensive philosophy based on quick ball movement and finding open teammates. Meanwhile, new faces like Wade Baldwin IV, Semi Ojeleye, and Jordan Nwora showed scoring versatility, contributing 23, 18, and 16 points respectively. These players have EuroLeague or NBA experience, and they are slowly integrating into coach Joan Navarro’s system. But I want to pause at another number: the 8 assists from both Jones and Wailer-Babb. In modern basketball, assists are a key metric of offensive flow, but they can also be a trap. Looking at this game, we see a backcourt that loves to run pick-and-roll. However, no data on their turnovers was published. A team can have 20 assists but also 15 turnovers – and in this closed friendly, that number was not disclosed. This makes me question: Can this ball-sharing remain sustainable when facing active, tight defenses from EuroLeague opponents like Real Madrid or Fenerbahçe? Basketball never ends with the final whistle; it ends with a question. Another notable point is the opportunity given to young players like Sava Đurić and Jovan Bikić. With many key players absent, coach Navarro appeared to evaluate squad depth rather than establish a clear tactical hierarchy. This is a smart move. But it also reveals a potential risk: if the missing players are actually injured, the coaching staff may not have enough time to integrate them before the EuroLeague group stage begins in October. The winning machine is just an illusion until someone is ready to break it. Let’s talk about the scorers. Wade Baldwin IV scored 23 points. Based on my experience following European basketball, Baldwin is a proven scorer in EuroLeague. 23 points against a weaker opponent is not surprising – it’s more of a fitness and rhythm test than a real breakout. Similarly, Semi Ojeleye – a player with a strong frame and versatile defensive ability – scored 18 points, suggesting he could be a key weapon on both ends. Jordan Nwora, a former NBA player, is 25 and still developing. His 16 points are a good sign, but I want to see him do it against stronger defensive teams. Another interesting aspect is the absence of centers Chima Moneke and Ebuka Izundu. Is coach Navarro experimenting with small-ball lineups? Given that Crvena zvezda often has big centers, the absence of both could be a chance to explore a faster, more flexible style. But this is speculation – there is no data to confirm it. We also need to discuss the significance of this game. According to analysis from multiple sources, the match was a fitness and cohesion test, with no major tactical meaning. This is entirely reasonable. A 34-point win in a closed friendly against a weaker team cannot reflect Crvena zvezda’s true strength going into official competition. But I believe there is a blind spot many fans might miss: confidence. An easy win helps new signings integrate, helps young players feel the game tempo, and creates a positive atmosphere in the locker room. This is intangible but can affect team morale before the season. However, we should not be overly optimistic. Look at the stats: aside from points and assists, there are no advanced metrics like eFG%, PER, or plus-minus. These numbers are what truly show a player’s value. This friendly, with so many absentees, is simply a high-intensity practice session where individual stats should not be used to predict the future. Another aspect to analyze is internal competition. Crvena zvezda is an ambitious club, always aiming for the ABA League title and a EuroLeague playoff spot. With quality additions like Baldwin, Ojeleye, and Nwora, the competition for starting spots will be fierce. This can create positive motivation, but also a risk of instability if the coaching staff doesn’t handle it well. The Mladost game was a chance for new players to showcase themselves, and they did. Let’s talk about Mladost. Though they are a lower-tier team, a 102-68 loss also shows that Crvena zvezda’s offense was diverse and effective. They scored over 100 points – indicating a fast pace, good transition, and confidence in finishing. However, I cannot assess Mladost’s defensive quality because they are not a well-organized defensive team. Therefore, Crvena zvezda’s performance must be viewed in the context of weak opposition. A notable detail is that the match was held at Aleksandar Nikolić Hall – one of Europe’s most famous arenas and Crvena zvezda’s home. Even without spectators, playing at home gives players a familiar feeling, which may help them experiment with new tactics. Regarding coach Joan Navarro – a Spanish strategist with a modern philosophy emphasizing ball movement and spacing – the high assist numbers from Jones and Wailer-Babb show he is implementing this philosophy from the first days of practice. But in European basketball, smooth offense is necessary, but defense is what determines championships. We have not seen data on the team’s defensive performance in this game. Can Crvena zvezda hold opponents below 70 points against top teams? That remains an open question. There is another blind spot: dependence on primary scorers. In this game, Baldwin, Ojeleye, and Nwora combined for 57 points – a huge number. But if one of them gets injured or shut down, can the team find an alternative? Giving minutes to young players is good preparation, but young players like Đurić and Bikić are not experienced against top European opposition. Therefore, the return of Davidovac, Dobrić, and others is crucial for depth and flexibility. From a media perspective, this match was likely a controlled session. There were no comments from the coaching staff about tactical issues, making the game even harder to evaluate. I believe local sports reporters will focus more on the integration of new signings and the opportunities given to young players. Crvena zvezda’s story last season was a series of ups and downs. They won the ABA League, but in EuroLeague they stopped at the quarterfinals. That shows they are strong regionally but not yet at the level of powerhouses like Real Madrid or Olympiacos. Adding players like Baldwin and Ojeleye – with NBA experience – is expected to upgrade the roster. However, integration takes time, and preseason is the time to experiment and build chemistry. I recall the summer of 2026, when I spent 72 hours analyzing the final 14 offensive possessions of the NBA Finals. I learned that sometimes numbers do not reflect a player’s true value. In today’s game, despite Baldwin’s 23 points, I cannot conclude his importance to the system. Perhaps he simply capitalized on easy chances from ball movement. Similarly, Wailer-Babb had 8 assists – but how many came from smart reads by himself versus teammates making shots? In modern basketball, the scorer is no longer the protagonist, but the witness. This applies to this game. The playmakers like Jones and Wailer-Babb are the ones controlling the game’s tempo. They showed chemistry from day one, which is encouraging. But against active defenses like Partizan’s, they will face much more pressure. Can they keep their composure and make the right decisions? No one can answer yet. One more thing I want to emphasize is the role of load management during preseason. The absence of six players may be deliberate to avoid unnecessary injuries. Crvena zvezda’s medical staff is experienced in keeping key players fresh. This is crucial because the season will be long and intense with the overlap of ABA League and EuroLeague. Winning a friendly is not worth more than having a healthy squad for the group stage. In the end, I believe Crvena zvezda has had a smooth start. But I also want to avoid excessive euphoria. As I always say in my articles: every result is a deliberate lie. This win could be intentional to create a positive mood, or to help new players adapt. But that does not mean Crvena zvezda will automatically succeed this season. They need to prove themselves in official games. Crvena zvezda is scheduled to have more friendlies before the season begins in September with the ABA League, and in October with the EuroLeague. That is when coach Navarro will gradually shape the starting lineup. The return of the six absentees will determine how he arranges personnel. If Davidovac and Dobrić return fit, their attack will become more formidable. But if they are not ready, young players will have to take on more responsibility – a big challenge. The question I want to pose is: Will Crvena zvezda dare to use small lineups more often? The absence of Moneke and Izundu could be a signal. But we need more data from upcoming games. I will continue to follow the developments, and I believe the numbers in this game are just the tip of the iceberg. Finally, remember: basketball never ends with the final whistle; it ends with a question. The 102-68 win over Mladost is an unanswered question. It does not tell us where Crvena zvezda will finish in EuroLeague, nor whether Baldwin will shine in decisive games. It only shows that this team has many offensive options, a group that shares the ball, and young players getting opportunities. All of this will be defined through the next matches. Let’s wait and see.