Avtodor Saratov hosts CSKA Moscow.
Who:
Avtodor, 2015-16 VTB United League playoffs
vs.
CSKA, 2015-16 Euroleague and VTB United League champion
Where:
Kristall (capacity 5,500), Saratov, Russia
When:
2:00 PM (2:00 MSK), October 30, 2016
TV:
Match! Nash sport, VTB-League.com
Face to Face
The rivalry between Saratov and Moscow is one of Russia’s finest, dating back to the late 90’s, when Avtodor posed the biggest threat to CSKA in domestic basketball.
Avtodor has remained competitive in the VTB United League, beating CSKA once in 2015. The club is 1-3 vs. Moscow in League meetings.
CSKA leads the all-time series, 48-16.
Looking Back
Motivation
Games vs. CSKA are always circled on the calendar for Avtodor president Vladimir Rodionov. The legendary coach and executive dreams of beating the Army superclub, going back to the classic rivalry in the late 90s and early 00s. On Sunday, his job is conveying that attitude to his team. He recently spoke about the start to the season, breaking down the roster in detail. Evgeny Kolesnikov, Artem Klimenko, Michael Carrera, and Michael Stockton did not earn positive reviews and are probably hungry to prove Rodionov wrong. Avtodor will have loads of motivation vs. the reigning champs, especially playing at home.
As for the Army Men, the team is renowned for its laser-like focus and winning approach to each game.
Balance of Power
Saratov didn’t have the best offseason, making for a disjointed preseason and 1-3 start to the campaign. The club has already hired a new head coach and has plans to shake up the roster.
CSKA, on the other hand, raced to a 6-0 opening, including four wins in the Euroleague. The Red-Blues will be heavy favorites on Sunday. Fatigue is the only concern for the visitors. The new Euroleague format means a much busier schedule and CSKA got its first taste this week: A tough road game vs. Efes on Tuesday, then home on Thursday to play UNICS, before flying to Saratov for Sunday’s game.
Saratov knocked off Kataja at home on Wednesday in the Basketball Champions League and should be the fresher team. If Avtodor can push the tempo and wear down CSKA, the game may be closer than expected.
Player Spotlight
Rodionov has no issues with Nick Minnerath’s play. 24.5 points and 9.0 rebounds: The forward plays big minutes (34.5 per game) and is extremely productive. Now Avtodor needs to get him some help. A lot depends on Branden Frazier. The American guard is tasked with pushing the tempo and orchestrating the offense.
That’s not going to be easy, considering he’s going up against Milos Teodosic and Nando De Colo. Both of the CSKA guards can take over at any moment, which they have done on a consistent basis to start this season.
Return
Artem Zabelin returned for the game vs. Kataja, his first appearance of the season. He should make his VTB United League debut on Sunday. His last game in the League was on April 23, coincidentally, vs. CSKA, when he posted 12 points and seven rebounds.
Quotes
Avtodor head coach Sergei Mokin:
– We face one of the toughest teams on the continent on Sunday. For us, like any other club, a game vs. CSKA is a exam on maturity. We’ll see what kind of basketball we can play against the 1st-place and reigning VTB United League and Euroleague champions. We’ll do everything we can to make it competitive. The game will show the rest.
CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis:
– Avtodor is an athletic team that depends on energy and enthusiasm. Every player on our opponent’s roster runs the fast break, with the exception of Klimenko, and they all are good at handling the ball. Every time we face a game in Saratov, we prepare for something tough, given the local team really feeds off the energy from the crowd. We need to respond to that, be focused and motivated to get the win on the road.
