VTB League season start is quite surprising. But the most intriguing thing is Kalev and Enisey. Both teams hold 3-1 record and share the second place with Nizhny Novgorod. And the schedule can’t explain this. Krasnoyarsk beat CSKA, and Kalev had consecutive wins over UNICS and Zenit. Not to mention Kazan were beaten with 22-point margin.
Kalev: three-point madness and defense
We’re all used to Kalev’s great scouting: they find diamonds in the dirt like Frank Elegar (later in Milan), Josh Boone (Khimki), Scott Machado (Lakers), Isaiah Briscoe (Orlando Magic). But this season can be an expection. Yes, the American again is team’s top scorer as Kyle Vinales is in League Top-10 scorers (16.7 pts) and Top-12 assisters (4.7).
However, individual skills of the point guard are not the key. Speaking of offense, long range shots are crucial and Kristjan Kitsing makes a difference. Within 4 games, he has 11 3-pointers with 45.8% (11 of 24).
The stats show how important it is for Kalev to shot from beyond the arc. Tallinn are in League Top-3 teams for number of long range shots (26.0), three-pointers made (10.5) and the percentage. But what’s more important is their tight defense. Believe it or not, but only Khimki allow less points than Kalev (75.8 points allowed per game). The Estonians’ defense of the perimeter is special. If we look at their games won, we’ll see that three-pointers helped Kalev only.
Another way to describe Kalev’s defense is their steals (7.8 per game). At the same time, Tallinners are very careful with the ball, with the least turnovers in the League (9 per game). Steals combined with low turnovers rate play a key role. Kalev’s advantage in points off turnovers decided the games with Nizhny Novgorod (19-7) and UNICS (21-2)
Enisey believes in leaders
There is something in common between Kalev and Enisey. Krasnoyarsk also use three-pointers a lot. However, they count on quality (40,96%), not quantity. Three-pointers are not a major part of their offense.
From time to time, Krasnoyarsk turn on tight D. Enisey didn’t manage to hold back Khimki (106 points allowed) and PARMA (88 points). But they stopped Avtodor (78 points) and CSKA (71 points) offense. It was the worst game for the Army club this season.
Anyways, the strengths of Krasnoayrks are different. Talk about selection. In the offseason, they retained key Russian players (Popov, Komissarov, Viktorov, Zakharov) and signed six great foreign players. It is true that Dustin Hogue, Garlon Green, Davion Berry and Darius Morris lack stability, but in several games they proved their level.
Enisey Balkan players were a nice surprse as well. Tomislav Zubcic became team’s top scorer from the very beginning (16 points per game). He has a great 3-pointer percentage – 45.5% (10 of 22). Nikola Rebic is a successful signing as well. He was supposed to be Morris’ substitute, but now he’s competing for minutes with his star teammate. After the game against PARMA, Rebic got to the Team of the week.
Considering the distance of the season, Enisey’s roster depth gives them more chances than Kalev’s. But it’s not that easy, as we could see in FIBA Cup game against Balkan. Krasnoyarsk couldn’t handle Bulgarian champion without Morris and Berry (missed the game due to food poisoning). This is a warning sign for Enisey.
Another trump card – that works on a regular basis in VTB League – didn’t help against Balkan. The scenario of Enisey’s victories is pretty much the same. They gain the lead, and in the last quarter give a chance to the rival. CSKA couldn’t use that chance, but Avtodor and PARMA got them into a clutch. This is where Anzulovic’s team showed their ability to survive.
Clutch wins can be attributed to team leaders’ individual skills. A credit should be given to Zakharov-Berry duo who fit perfectly in a clutch moment. They play the key possessions and reach the goal (Berry was the missing element against Balkan). This was the case at PARMA: Zakharov levelled the game with a three, and then Berry’s drive got the win for Enisey.
Actually, what Enisey show now doesn’t reveal their full potential. They are still in search for their game and can get even stronger. We can see it in their offense structure. Krasnoyarsk basketball is diversified. It’s not shot-driven (which is popular now). In their offense, Enisey use pick and rolls, isolations, and fast breaks and combinations for the big men.
What Enisey and Kalev show now in VTB League is a true surprise. But maintaing this position will be hard. All the teams will be motivated to beat Krasnoyarsk, long travels are still to happen in the season. No matter how tough problems can be, both teams showed their potential. Teams’ signature tricks will hardly be enough to keep in Top-3, but Krasnoyarsk and Tallinn will have their crucial wins to compete for the playoffs.
