Hapoel Jerusalem made an emphatic statement in its EuroCup opener, crushing the Rostock Seawolves 93-74 to demonstrate that the Reds are serious about winning the competition and earning a place in the EuroLeague. Head coach Sasa Obradovic made sure his team got off to the right start, leaving little doubt about its ambitions.

The Serbian coach was determined to avoid the slow starts that plagued Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv in their EuroLeague openers the previous week. Both teams lacked intensity and aggression, leaving themselves with an uphill battle after opening their European campaigns with losses.

There was no chance Obradovic was going to let Jerusalem fall into the same trap.

His rotations worked to perfection, while his defensive adjustments in the second half effectively neutralized TJ Crockett Jr. after the Rostock guard had poured in 22 points before halftime. More importantly, Jerusalem maintained its intensity for the full 40 minutes, never allowing the visitors to believe they had a chance to get back into the contest.

With star guard Jared Harper sidelined, Obradovic knew his entire roster would need to contribute. Throughout the preseason, he worked to find the right combinations and establish alternatives that could keep the offense running smoothly when the games started to count. Against Rostock, Shake Milton, Kenny Lofton Jr., Jaleen Smith and Eitan Burg all played their part as Jerusalem dished out 24 assists.

Lofton once again led the way, finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. However, the biggest unsung hero of the night was undoubtedly Devontae Cacok.

The Jerusalem big man delivered an impressive all-around performance, scoring nine points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists. His playmaking from the frontcourt was particularly valuable, helping Jerusalem maintain its offensive rhythm and giving Obradovic another dimension to work with.

Smith also enjoyed an outstanding night, recording 20 points and seven assists, while Milton contributed 14 points and six assists. Together, the trio helped turn Jerusalem’s offense into a well-oiled machine, demonstrating just how many weapons Obradovic has at his disposal.

Rostock may not be among the EuroCup’s elite teams, and its roster has some limitations, but that shouldn’t diminish what Jerusalem accomplished. The Reds executed Obradovic’s game plan effectively, displaying the discipline, intensity and offensive versatility that will be essential if they hope to make a deep run in the competition.

Their physicality was evident on the glass, where they collected 42 rebounds, including 15 on the offensive end. Jerusalem also recorded seven steals and forced 16 Rostock turnovers while committing just 11 of its own.

After the game, Yovel Zoosman highlighted the importance of the team’s aggressive approach, while acknowledging that there is still plenty of room for improvement. Jerusalem has an impressive collection of offensive talent, but translating that potential into consistent performances will be one of Obradovic’s biggest challenges as the season progresses.

The Reds were also efficient from beyond the arc, connecting on eight of 18 attempts for an impressive 44.4%. Just as encouraging, three-pointers accounted for only 27% of their field-goal attempts. Rather than settling for shots from deep, Jerusalem consistently attacked the basket and took advantage of what Rostock’s defense gave it.

Obradovic also managed to keep his rotation to nine players, providing a solid foundation for the season’s opening contest. That number is likely to grow to 10 once Lorenzo Brown has had a few more practices with his new teammates. The former Maccabi Tel Aviv star could make his Jerusalem debut on Sunday night against his old club in the Winner Cup semifinal in Holon, adding another significant weapon to an already talented roster.

They head coach had already made clear how seriously he was taking the EuroCup, explaining after Jerusalem’s Winner Cup quarterfinal victory on Friday that the competition was a major priority for the club.

“We know how important this competition is for our fans, and we’ll do a lot of preparation. We want to start well and make a statement by establishing certain standards that we always want to maintain,” Obradovic said ahead of the opener.

His team delivered on that promise in emphatic fashion.

For Jerusalem, the 93-74 victory was more than just a successful start to its European campaign. It was an early indication of what this team could become under Obradovic, who has the experience and pedigree to lead a serious EuroCup contender.

It has been some time since the club assembled a roster with this much talent while bringing in a coach of Obradovic’s caliber. One has to go back to the teams featuring Donta Smith, Lior Eliyahu, Yotam Halperin, Curtis Jerrells and Amar’e Stoudemire, which captured Israeli league championships in 2015 and 2017, to find a comparable collection of talent. To revisit Jerusalem’s European glory, one must go back even further, to the club’s ULEB Cup triumph in 2004.

Of course, one impressive EuroCup victory does not guarantee anything, and Jerusalem will need to maintain this level of execution against tougher opposition. But the early signs are encouraging.

With Obradovic at the helm, a talented roster at his disposal and owner Matan Adelson providing the resources to pursue the club’s ambitions, Jerusalem has the pieces to compete for the EuroCup title and the coveted EuroLeague place that comes with it.

The Reds have made their intentions clear. Now they must prove they can sustain this level of play throughout the season.