Cluj's first EuroCup result looked ugly, but this is a different rotation. Plavšić and Livingston returned for the win at Vienna, giving Smart help inside and on the ball. That fuller attack makes the Roma score a poor guide to this matchup. Venezia's strong start deserves respect, yet its Frankfurt romp came with an unusually hot night from deep.
Cluj scored just 55 at Roma after giving up early second chances and outside shots. At Vienna, Plavšić played 27 minutes, scored 15 and added five assists; Smart had 17 points and eight assists, while Bess, McCreary and Kullamäe also reached double figures. Cluj finished with 27 assists and 12 turnovers against a zone defense.
Venezia spread the scoring across its roster against Frankfurt and found late defensive stops at Trieste. Watson and Candi have given it strong play from the perimeter. Cluj now has the interior passing and another ballhandler to meet that pressure at BT Arena.
