Moscow and Perm will host 3 regular season games on Wednesday.
PARMA-PARI (Perm) – Astana (Astana)
Time: 19:30 (17:30 Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Perm, UDS Molot
Broadcast: TV Start, League website
PARMA-PARI: The Perm team has already guaranteed the Playoffs, but has not accomplished all standings tasks. Evgeny Pashutin team can get the 1st place of the Group B – the hosts only need to beat Astana on Wednesday. In 2 out of 3 rivals games, PARMA had difficulties, so there is no doubt that the Perm team will not underestimate the opponent in the last home game. PARMA-PARI also had enough time to rest and preparation as the guests had a very busy schedule.
Astana: The Kazakh team has not won for more than a month and has a 6-game losing streak. In addition, Astana is experiencing some problems with the roster – Kwame Vaughn and Michael Myers returned literally on Sunday. For more than a week already Astana is on the road, having visited Saratov and Krasnoyarsk before Perm. Therefore, one of the main tasks for Oleg Kiselev’s team is to recover, especially given the tight defense. Astana will not be a favorite in Perm, but considering the fact that 3 weeks ago the Perm team almost lost in Astana (74-73), we can expect a tough game.
MBA (Moscow) – Zenit (St. Petersburg)
Time: 19:30 (Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Moscow, Basket Hall Moscow
Broadcast: TV Start, League website
MBA: Last week, the Moscow team managed to get the first win in the second stage of the regular season beating Pari Nizhny Novgorod. But 8-game losing streak affected the team – MBA lost chances to get lower than the 6th place in the Group A. Now Vasily Karasev team can prepare for the Playoffs. In the last hose game of the regular season, the League newcomer will host Zenit, the teams also will play in the quarterfinals. So in fact, there will be there first round preparation. MBA also announced that Sergey Kliuev will miss the remained of the season due to injury.
Zenit: As for MBA, the reigning champion had accomplished all tasks – the max place for the St. Petersburg team is the 3rd. That is why it is good time to know opponent as well as possible. The teams had played 3 times in the regular season and on Friday they played in the Russian Cup semifinals. The St. Petersburg team looks like the favorite, but last 2 games against MBA in the League were very close: In mid-January the newcomer sensationally won at home (76-75), and two weeks later Zenit took revenge (73-71).
CSKA (Moscow) – Pari Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod)
Time: 20:00 (Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Moscow, Megasport
Broadcast: TV Start Triumph, Match! Igra, League website
CSKA: The Army team confidently ends the regular season at the 1st place – the gap between UNICS is 5 wins. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that CSKA will come against Nizhny Novgorod relaxed. At the same time, the coaching staff may limit the leaders minutes and practice their tactics before the playoffs begin. Newcomer DeVontae Cacok will surely get more playing time. He should get used to playing with the team as quickly as possible. The game against the Volga team will be a good test for CSKA’s offense as they have one of their best defenses this season. The challenge will be made more difficult by the possible absence of Alexey Shved, who has been out for more than a month due to injury.
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Nizhny starts the least regular season week as the Russian Cup winner – the team beat Zenit on Sunday. This trophy became the first in Pari Nizhny Novgorod history, so the team goes to Moscow in a good mood. But the Russian Cup is in the past and now Nizhny needs to focus on the 4th place hold. Pari NN will play against Lokomotiv Kuban in the quarterfinals, but it is unknown, which team will get the home court advantage. The Volga team has better chances: NN needs to beat CSKA or MBA and hope Loko to lose on Sunday in Moscow.
