In the Game of the Week in Krasnodar, Lokomotiv Kuban will host Zenit.
Place: Russia, Krasnodar, Basket Hall
Time: November 16, 2022, 20:30
Broadcasts: TV Start Triumph, Match TV, League website
The Rivalry
Lokomotiv Kuban and Zenit played 20 games in the VTB League. Loko got the lead – they had won 11 games. In each of the 7 seasons in which the St. Petersburg team participated, Loko beat them at least once – except for the previous one.
In the 2021/22 season, both games Zenit won – 106:79 on the road and 91:75 at home.
The two teams met in the playoffs only once – in the 2018/19 season. In the decisive stage, despite Loko home court advantage, Zenit was stronger – 3:1.
The teams also played before the start of this season. In the SuperCup 2022, Loko beat Zenit in the group stage (74:73) – Jaylen Barford scored the winning shot. Interestingly, at the same time, the St. Petersburg team reached the final and won it.
Start of the season
For the Krasnodar team, the start of the season was not too bright. The team started with 4 losses in 6 games. However, then Loko improved: wins over Astana, Avtodor and Enisey allowed the team to make it to the Top 6.
Zenit started the season with a home loss against UNICS. The reigning champion also has one more loss from CSKA. The St. Petersburg team is in 3rd place and continue to chase the leaders. But Zenit is unbeatable and showing the best shape. In October, the St. Petersburg team almost lost to PARMA-PARI and Samara on the road and then almost lost a major lead against Nizhny Novgorod in Sibur Arena.
Numbers and leaders
Zenit is the 4th team in the League in total points scored (81.8 points), Loko is the 7th (78.4). The St. Petersburg team is among the Top-3 in the League in three-pointers percentage (38.9%), the Krasnodar team has 33.3% from the perimeter. Xavi Pascual team are 2nd in assists (21.4), Alexander Sekulic team is 5th (18.3).
At the same time, Lokomotiv Kuban surpasses Zenit in two stats – rebounds (37.0 vs. 35.1) and steals (9.1 vs. 8.0)
Loko guard Jaylen Barford is 2nd best scorer of the League with average 18.1 points per game. Andrey Martiuk with 13.8 points is 11th. By the way, Martiuk is the 2nd most effective Russian player this season.
The best in points in Zenit – Trey Tompkins (11.4) is not included in the Top 20. But 6 players of the team score 8 or more points. In general, Zenit’s 16 players scored this season, while Loko has 10 players who scored.
Zenit guard Thomas Heurtel is the season leader in assists (7.6), Jaylen Barford – in steals (2.3).
Streak
Loko has already won 3 in a row and this is the longest current winless streak in the League after CSKA at the moment. The Army team has 10 wins in a row.
Fact
Zenit has not lost on the road yet this season. Both losses, from UNICS and CSKA, took place at Sibur Arena.
A word to the legend
The famous coach and member of the FIBA Hall of Fame Evgeny Gomelsky about the upcoming game: «I think Pascual will be able to build the game so that his players take Lokomotiv Kuban as seriously as possible. Anyone who tries to underestimate the Krasnodar team risks – I have said this more than once and I am ready to repeat it»
Old-new Friends
There are 4 former Loko players in Zenit: Denis Zakharov (2016/17), Dmitriy Kulagin (2017-20), Andrey Zubkov (2010-17) and Vitaly Fridzon (2018-20). The Krasnodar team has no ex-Zenit players.
