CSKA will face Pari Nizhny Novgorod in the Quarterfinals up to 3 wins.
Time and Place
Game 1. April 23, 19:30 (Moscow time), Moscow, Megasport
Game 2. April 25, 19:30 (Moscow time), Moscow, Megasport
Game 3. April 28, 20:00 (Moscow time), Nizhny Novgorod, KRK Nagorny
Game 4.* April 30, 20:00 (Moscow time), Nizhny Novgorod, KRK Nagorny
Game 5.* 03 May. 14:00 (Moscow time), Moscow, Megasport.
* – if necessary
Regular season
CSKA: 2nd place (37 wins and 7 losses)
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: 7th place (18 wins and 26 losses).
Rivalry history
CSKA was stronger in the season series, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. The Volga team had the biggest sensation at the start of the season. Aubrey Dawkins had great performance and dragged CSKA to the clutch. By the logic of the game, Dawkins had to decide in the last possession, and he did it with game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds. Nizhny defeated CSKA in the regular season for the first time since 2015.
In the other 3 games, the Moscow team showed high class. The most interesting was the February game. Sergey Kozin team played a very confident first half and had lead by halftime. Then Casper Ware (29 points, season-high) broke Pari Nizhny Novgorod resistance.
Andreas Pistiolis team didn’t experience any serious difficulties in the remaining games. The most important was April’s game – first, CSKA last home game of the regular season, and second, a win guaranteed the Moscow team the 2nd place in the standings. CSKA confidently ended the game with 20-point lead.
Why CSKA can win
The Moscow team is certainly among the top contenders for the title, which means they will be considered clear favorites in this Playoffs series. Balanced roster, players’ experience and strong performers will help to succeed.
5 CSKA players average 10 or more points per game (Tonye Jekiri, Amath M’Baye, Aleksa Avramovic, Livio Jean-Charles and Melo Trimble), while the sixth, Casper Ware averaged 9.8 points. CSKA roster depth is helping the team to not risk to overload players. There were times when player can made a performance when needed (for example, Ware in February’s game against Nizhny). But in general, the Moscow team is able to maintain pressure and high tempo through rotation, with little to no downgrade in the quality when the starters take a break.
CSKA finished the regular season leading the League in average scoring (91.6 points) and assists (21.2). The Moscow team became the only one to score more than 90 points per game, and this great offense was achieved primarily due to team play. CSKA’s top scorer Melo Trimble (14.3 points) is only the 13th best scorer of the season.
Andreas Pistiolis sensationally joined the Moscow team just before the Playoffs last season, replacing Emil Rajkovic. At the time, the move was considered controversial by many, but the Greek coach proved the skeptics wrong – in his debut as head coach, Pistiolis led CSKA to its first VTB United League title since 2021.
Why Pari Nizhny Novgorod can win
Interesting fact: CSKA has lost only one game in Quarterfinals in the last 10 years. The Moscow team lost to Nizhny Novgorod in 2021. Of course, this is nothing more than a symbolic moment: both teams have changed most of core players and head coaches, so there’s no point in talking about any winning experience for Nizhny Novgorod. Nevertheless, the club will surely remember this win and use it to motivate the team.
Zach Nutall still ranks second in the best scoring list (17.2 points). In February the American guard received a tempting offer from the Chinese club and left Pari NN, forcing Sergey Kozin to rebuild the team’s offense.
Pari NN coaching staff managed to cope with this task: after Nutall departure, the Volga team scored 80 or more points in 8 of 13 games played. Aleksandr Chadov, Ilya Karpenkov, and Nemanja Durisic took over the offense well. Nemanja was the man, who helped the team to beat PARMA in Play-In by scoring 17 points in the first quarter.
Still, Pari NN will have to really try hard to give the Moscow team a fight throughout the series. The relative inexperience of the coach may also have an impact: Sergey Kozin has come a long way, working in the club’s structure since 2013, but this will be the first time he will be tested by the Playoffs as the head coach. Of course, Pistiolis was in even more difficult situation last season, but Kozin resources are much more modest. Moreover, Nizgny Novgorod lost Igor Volkhin due to injury. He became one of team’s leader after arrival in February.
X-factor
Of course, the Moscow team will use everything to win the series. Especially, front court advantage can play key role. Jekiri, M’ Baye and Jean-Charles showed great game and were supported by Kurbanov and Antonov. Pari NN has no comparable set of players.
Of course, CSKA is too experienced for underestimate its opponent. Nizhny Novgorod own attitude must come first. Wins over PARMA at the end of the season should give the Volga team a serious boost.
Facts
CSKA and Nizhny have faced each other in the Playoffs more often than any other Quarterfinal team. The teams will face in the Playoffs for the 6th time.
Pari NN is the only team not in the Top 4 to beat CSKA in Regular Season.
CSKA was the best of the season in points (91.6), field-goal percentage (49.7%), three-point percentage (39.2%), free-throw percentage (81.7%) and assists (21.2). The Moscow team also had less fouls (18.9 fouls).
CSKA has the best scoring bench in the season (43.2 points).
