Astana and Yekaterinburg will host 2 regular season games on Thursday.
Astana (Astana) vs Enisey (Krasnoyarsk)
Time: 17:00 (14:00 Moscow time)
Place: Kazakhstan, Astana, Velotrek Saryarka
Broadcast: TV Start, League website
Astana: Loss against Enisey could lead to the departure of Kazakh team from the Top 10, so to the upcoming game is really important. The November face-to-face was equal – both teams made 90+ points, but the Krasnoyarsk team got the win (96:92). Karvel Anderson and Markell Johnson scored 47 points combined. However, both guards have been unstable over the last month, alternating offensive performances with bad games. If Anderson and Johnson can return to their high level and once again find the key to Jovica Arsic defense, Astana will have a good chance to finish the first stage with a win.
Enisey: Home win over Uralmash guaranteed Enisey the Playoffs spot. Jovica Arsic team was finally able to overcome the problem of defending opponents’ bigmen – Enisey got more rebounds (36 vs. 33) and allowed Octavius Ellis to score only 8 points. To repeat the success of the first round against Astana, the team will need to show tough defense in the paint, but this time against Royce Hamm. The Krasnoyarsk team will have an advantage over an unstable opponent – the leaders’ duo is in good shape, and Xavier Rathan-Mayes has scored at least 22 points in 6 games in a row.
Uralmash (Yekaterinburg) vs Pari Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod)
Time: 19:30 (17:30 Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Yekaterinburg, DIVS
Broadcast: Match! Igra, TV Start, League website
Uralmash: The team has 2 straight losses, but retained the 8th place in the standings. Long-range shooting was the reason of bad play against CSKA and Enisey – only 23% of three-pointers were made. At the same time, Uralmash moves the ball well and ranks in the Top 2 in average assists (19.2). Offensive variations could be the key to the opponent’s defense, which had stopped Zenit and Loko, but failed to cope with the Army team’s offense. Another important factor will be Octavius Ellis, who scored 22 points in the first game against Nizhny Novgorod and helped to get the win.
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: After Dmitrii Khvostov return, Nizhny is actively improving. The Volga team finished the games against Top-4 teams will more wins than losses, having beaten Loko and Zenit at home. Zoran Lukic team was able to stop opponents’ shooters, allowing only 15% of three-pointers, but couldn’t guard Vince Hunter in the paint. The problems in the paint against Uralmash may have a stronger impact as the Yekaterinburg team bigmen performance in the first round that was the key. But this time Nizhny has a much better chance: the team has a confidence gained after wins over the League leaders.
