Moscow, Saratov and Perm will host 3 regular season games on Sunday.
CSKA (Moscow) vs. Lokomotiv Kuban (Krasnodar)
Time: 13:00 (Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Moscow, Megasport
Broadcast: Match TV, Start Triumph, League website
CSKA: The rivalry between the 2 leaders should be the highlight of the first round. The reigning champion has the catching role there as the Moscow team has already lost once. But with the exception of that defeat in Nizhny Novgorod, CSKA has been showing good basketball anyway. The Moscow team will have a special attitude and try to take the top place in the standings from previous leader.
Lokomotiv Kuban: Loko has become the most uncomfortable opponent for the Moscow team over the past few years. CSKA often falls to the unpredictable and emotional Loko character. This season the Krasnodar team has not abandoned the trademark basketball. Loko run, play with excitement and on this wave defeat even the most dangerous opponents. If CSKA can’t stop the Krasnodar team, Loko will have a good chance to extend the winning streak.
Avtodor (Saratov) vs. Uralmash (Yekaterinburg)
Time: 16:00 (15:00 Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Saratov, DS Kristall
Broadcast: Start Triumph, League website
Avtodor: Pace will be the key to the second game of the day as well. The Saratov team will have a good chance to win using such tactic. The Volga team can do it. Despite players injuries, Avtodor looks good in most games. This week in Moscow the team only allowed CSKA to get away win in the final quarter, for example.
Uralmash: The team can’t find its game yet. The Yekaterinburg team feel great in fast paced games. But the players get lost in tight positional basketball. In the absence of pick-and-roll masters Octavius Ellis and Anton Glazunov, Rostislav Vergun team become too dependent on isolations and Jeremiah Martin and Stanley Whittaker performances. And that hasn’t always worked so far.
PARMA (Perm Region) vs. Samara (Samara Region)
Time: 18:00 (16:00 Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Perm, UDS Molot
Broadcast: Match! Igra, League website
PARMA: The Perm team looked very decent in both games versus CSKA and UNICS. PARMA plays very strong at home. The upcoming game with Samara could be another confirmation. After 2 losses, the hosts will do their best to please fans with a long-awaited win.
Samara: The Volga team is the most unpredictable team in the League at the start of the season. Injuries are the main problem. The team has bad trend of getting the players’ injured game after game. Roster problems have prevented Drazen Anzulovic from building an optimal lineup. But even in such conditions, Samara is still a force. The team is among the 6 strongest teams in the League and will try to secure that place in Perm.
