Anadolu Efes 85-74 Victory Over Lokomotiv Kuban: Squad Depth and the Trap of a Preseason Game

Anadolu Efes left Gloria Cup with an 85-74 win over Lokomotiv Kuban. Dario Saric posted 15 points and 4 rebounds, while Knight added 18 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists. The most significant detail came from the collective: eight players scored at least 10 points. Exhibition results usually carry little predictive value. Teams can hide sets, rotate heavily, or manage the workload of their starters. Efes did not hide much, at least on the scoreboard. They used eight double-figure scorers, moved the ball evenly, and avoided making one player carry the whole system. “I do not watch the game. I watch the crowd betting on the game.” That phrase keeps coming back when a preseason win starts to fuel a star narrative. Saric’s performance may make fans imagine him as Efes’s main anchor in the new season. Yet the crowd tends to merge two separate ideas: scoring in a tune-up and creating points in difficult EuroLeague situations. What the box score says is that Saric played in a system not designed around a single weapon. Knight’s 5 assists show a playmaking role, not just scoring. Malcolm, Yusta, and Russell all appeared on a crowded scoring sheet. Put together, the numbers draw a picture of a team that can share offensive responsibility. Every isolated number is a lie. Only when placed side by side does the truth begin to reveal itself. But that truth remains incomplete. There are no efficiency metrics, no usage percentage, no on/off data. We do not know how many minutes Saric played or how hard Lokomotiv Kuban defended. So Saric’s 15-point display is raw data, not yet validated by real competitive context. Based on years of watching Anadolu Efes games, I have noticed one rule: preseason form is never linear. Some teams win big in exhibition games and then fall apart during the real season because they cannot handle pressure. Some teams look dull in Gloria Cup and then click when EuroLeague begins. The difference lies in small details: how quickly newcomers adapt, whether the coach has tested his closing lineup, and the physical condition of the core. For Efes, the next checkpoints are clear. The VTB Cup group stage will bring games against Zenit and UNICS, two physical pressing teams. The EuroLeague opener against Barcelona on September 24 will be the first meaningful test. Barcelona has roster depth, knows how to exploit mismatches, and usually applies pressure early. If Saric can still score 15 points in those settings, the star narrative becomes credible. Conversely, an 85-74 exhibition win carries a hidden trap: too many attacking options without a clear hierarchy. When eight players score in double figures, the team looks balanced, but late in tight games the ball can go to only one or two destinations. EuroLeague games are often decided in half-court moments that require a player capable of creating a tough shot. Is Saric that player? One exhibition game cannot answer. At the same time, this result should not turn Efes into early title contenders. They remain in the middle tier of EuroLeague, with too many unresolved variables. Injuries, a congested schedule, newcomers’ integration, and bench resilience have yet to be tested. A positive Gloria Cup result only gives the team a comfortable working day; it does not remove the risks of a demanding league. The next thing to watch is how Efes uses its roster in the first official match. Which lineup will the coach choose in closing minutes? Who receives the ball in crucial possessions? Will Knight continue as a playmaking threat against organized defenses? These questions require data from the VTB Cup, where physicality is closer to EuroLeague than a warm-up. In the summer of 2026, I sat in front of a screen and realized the ball is not the most important thing to read. I started reading roster structure first, then scoring. In an exhibition game, scoring is almost meaningless. But the way a team spaces players, distributes opportunities, and reacts to the rhythm of the game are early signals. Efes showed enough offensive diversity. They have not yet shown the sharpness needed when things get tight. The real question after this win is not whether Saric deserves star status. It is whether his output can be repeated in two or three consecutive official matches. The signal will become clearer as soon as official basketball begins. Then we will know if this 85-74 win was the first sign of a mature team or just a summer shooting display that leaves nothing behind but excitement.