Two more blockbuster games on tap this weekend, featuring the League’s top clubs. Let’s look at each team’s chances of securing a signature win.
Lokomotiv-Kuban – Khimki
When: 4:00 PM (4:00 MSK), February 24, 2017
Where: Basket Hall, Krasnodar
TV: Match TV, VTB-League.com
Keys for Loko:
Elite defense
Last season, defense led Lokomotiv to the Euroleague Final Four. Much has changed in recent months, but defense and discipline remain Krasnodar’s calling cards. Loko gives up the fewest points per game in the League and knows how to trap any opponent. Khimki won’t get a friendly welcome.
Two Towers
Kevin Jones and Ian Vougioukas pack a punch in the frontcourt. They may not be Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, but together they’ve dominated plenty of big men across Europe. Khimki prefers to go small with the team’s only true center, Dmitry Sokolov, playing less than 10 minutes per game. During the first meeting between these clubs, Vougioukas scored 15 points on 50% shooting. Jones didn’t have as big an impact, but he’s come on strong in recent months, averaging an impressive 13.9 ppg. Marko Todorovic and Robbie Hummel will be tasked with opposing Kuban’s big man threat.
13
Lokomotiv put together an impressive winning streak, stretching back to the loss in mid-October in Khimki. CSKA brought the 13-game run to an end, but even in defeat Krasnodar impressed, testing the reigning champs on the road. Loko is playing extremely well and would hate to drop back-to-back games.
Keys for Loko:
Elite offense
Loko – Khimki games are often billed as “elite offense” vs. “elite defense.” Friday’s game won’t be an exception. After all, Khimki boasts one of the League’s most dangerous attacks. After combining with Avtodor for 227 points (118-109), Moscow Region dropped 98 on UNICS in Kazan.
Fast and the Furious: Moscow Region Drift
Khimki nearly averages 98 per game, putting up a ridiculous 95.7 ppg in VTB United League road games.
No one told Alexey Shved the All-Star Game is over
He’s making opposing defenses look silly, dropping 24+7+12 in Saratov and 31+6 in Kazan. Shved is on fire and extremely difficult to defend. Even the League’s top defense could struggle to contain the explosive Russian playmaker.
CSKA – UNICS
When: 4:00 PM (4:00 MSK), February 26, 2017
Where: USH CSKA, Moscow
TV: Nash Sport, VTB-League.com
Keys for CSKA:
Deep bench
The Army Men have the League’s deepest roster, which they utilized in the first meeting between these clubs in January. Trailing midway through the contest, Kazan put together a comeback, getting within four points in the 4th quarter. Dimitris Itoudis didn’t even flinch, bringing in a fresh lineup featuring De Colo, Jackson, Kurbanov, Khryapa and Augustine. The energized Army Men quickly took advantage of UNICS’s fatigue–Langford (36 min), Johnson (40 min), Parakhouski (32 min)–stretching out the lead to get the win. Even at the final whistle, CSKA’s players looked fresh as daisies.
No Langford No Party
CSKA isn’t the only team to focus on neutralizing Kazan’s biggest scoring threat. But the Army Men are one of the only teams to consistently find an answer for Langford, limiting his efficiency and making it nearly impossible for him to win a game on his own. The Muscovites employ a team effort, seeking to keep Langford off balance and wear him down with multiple defensive stoppers, in addition to throwing double and sometimes triple-teams at him. Langford rarely scores 20 points against CSKA and struggles to impact the outcome of the game.
Domination
Historically, CSKA has been a nightmare matchup for UNICS and coach Evgeny Pashutin. The Army Men lead the all-time series 72-17, including 14-2 in the VTB United League.
Kazan’s last win in Moscow came when the club featured players such as Zakhar Pashutin, Kelly McCarty and Amiran Amirkhanov.
Keys for UNICS:
Langford’s motivation
The first time these teams met, Langford committed three fouls in the 1st quarter for the first time in his career. He also picked up an unsportsmanlike foul in the final seconds of the game, trying to break up a CSKA possession while trailing by 11 points.
Langford deserves his recognition as one of Europe’s top scorers. On Sunday, he’ll be extremely motivated to prove it once again against the Euroleague and VTB United League reigning champs.
Recovering from injury
Injuries have been a huge issue for UNICS this season, but everyone is finally on the mend. Key players like Quino Colom and Coty Clarke are back on the court, Vadim Panin has returned and Anton Ponkrashov is ready to play again. Fresh blood is exactly what the Tatar club needs to finish the season.
Pashutin’s moment of truth
Pashutin has a lot on the line on Sunday. It’s been a difficult stretch for the club. According to president Evgeny Bogachev, he had two very serious talks with Pashutin during the club’s eight-game losing streak (four each in the League and Euroleague) and decided to keep him on. The White-Greens finally won in Nizhny Novgorod, but the beatdown by Khimki in Kazan’s Basket Hall kept UNICS reeling. The front office’s patience could eventually run out.
