Loko got off to a rocky start, dropping its first game to Enisey, before losing badly to rival Khimki on the road. The slump carried over to the Eurocup, where Krasnodar has suffered multiple uncharacteristic defeats.
The early setbacks forced the front office to take extreme measures. Head coach Fotios Katsikaris departed, replaced by Sasa Obradovic. At least so far, the move has had an impact with Kuban looking very different on the court.
On Sunday, Lokomotiv awaits a date with the League’s most dangerous opponent, CSKA Moscow. The Army Men will be clear favorites. But Krasnodar fans have reasons to dream of an upset. There are several factors in Loko’s favor, and it could be enough to tip the balance.
Loko’s 3-pointers
Kuban has relied on 3-point shooting since the start of the season, ranking 4th in attempts. Since Obradovic’s arrival, not much has changed. The Railwaymen average 24-25 shots from beyond the arc per game and are currently 1st in made 3-pointers (10 per game, 40.7%).
Matt Janning, Ryan Broekhoff, and Mardy Collins have posed the biggest threat in recent games. But almost everyone in the rotation has the green light on the perimeter, with the exception of center Ian Vougioukas.
Rebounding
Loko is also a good rebounding team. Krasnodar leads the League with 40 per game, dominating opponents on the glass.
The team has been even better since Sasa Obradovic’s arrival. Kuban parted ways with Kenny Gabriel and reduced the slower Ian Vougioukas’s playing time, giving minutes to the more athletic duo of Kevin Jones and Andrei Zubkov. Those two have been the biggest reason for Loko’s success on the glass in recent games.
The contrast between Gabriel and Jones is indicative of the transformation in Krasnodar. Under Katsikaris, the hard-working Jones didn’t have a long leash and there were rumors he was close to leaving the club. But Katsikaris left first and it’s a new era under Obradovic. Under the Serb, Jones’s hard-nosed approach carried more weight than Gabriel’s starpower.
Injuries and CSKA’s physical condition
Injuries have been a factor at both clubs. Lokomotiv’s leading scorer, Taylor Rochestie, is currently out. But the Army Men’s losses appear more significant. Top star Nando De Colo is unavailable, along with big men Pavel Korobkov and Joel Freeland.
There are other issues at CSKA, too. Last week, for example, guard Aaron Jackson and head coach Dimitris Itoudis had a little run-in during a game and it’s possible the confrontation could have a lingering impact.
CSKA’s brutal calendar doesn’t make things any easier. Even with the League’s deepest roster, CSKA struggles to stay fresh and and it’s not unusual for various leaders to “disappear” at times. Heading into Sunday’s game, the Red-Blues will have one less day to prepare than their opponent.
Mardy Collins
Mardy Collins has been carrying Loko this season. With Broekhoff and Khvostov searching for their game, and Janning showing some rust, Collins has filled the leadership void: scoring, rebounding, and distributing for Krasnodar.
He’s the engine and the brains behind this team. Of course, with Rochestie’s return and Khvostov’s adaptation, the forward’s impact on the team will diminish. But for now, Loko’s success largely depends on him.
CSKA’s slow starts
Surprisingly, CSKA has gotten off to very slow starts in recent games. It’s been a recurring theme, even against weaker opposition. Against top teams, like Lokomotiv, the 1st quarter has often been a disaster.
Dimitris Itoudis is trying to find answers, making frequent changes to the lineup. Over the last nine games, the team has featured a different starting five every time out. But there hasn’t been much impact yet. The Red-Blues continue to struggle early, and Lokomotiv has to take advantage.
Motivation and fan support
It’s never hard to find motivation against CSKA. Of course, some teams give up mentally before the game even starts, but that won’t be the case with Lokomotiv. Kuban will be fired up for Sunday’s game and do everything it can to get a win, especially in front of a big Basket Hall crowd. Krasnodar fans love the game and always come out to support the home team. There’s a chance that devotion could help tip the scales in Loko’s favor down the stretch.
