Game of the Week: Avtodor vs Lokomotiv-Kuban

Game of the Week: Avtodor vs Lokomotiv-Kuban

Avtodor host Lokomotiv-Kuban in the regular season game.

Where:
Crystal (5500 spectators), Saratov, Russia

When:
November 15, 2020, 17:00 (16:00 MSK)

Broadcast:
TV Start, VTB United League

Look in the past


Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Evgeny Pashutin used to coach Avtodor

Face to face:

Avtodor and Lokomotiv-Kuban have played 12 games in the League and Krasnodar lead 9-3.

The Black-Whites didn’t have the best time in 2019/20 season, but one of their five wins was against Kuban – 76:74 in December 2019. Markel Starks’ three-pointer buzzer game-winner marked the game.

Loko took revenge in Crystal (97:81). The Volga club won at home only once: December 6, 2014.

Last week

On Wednsday, Lokomotiv hosted Virtus, their main rival in Eurocup. Kuban allowed 20 turnovers and suffered the third loss this season – 83:89.

Without European games, Avtodor have spent a week preparing for the game.

Intrigue

Avtodor (3-2) started the season with two big losses, and one was from PARMA at home court. Saratov, however, cheered the fans making amends against Astana, Khimki and Tsmoki-Minsk.

Lokomotiv (5-1) are one of the hottest teams this season. Krasnodar are having a 4-game winning streak (and 2nd place in the League).

The Volga club are trying to extend the streak before 20-day break. Faceoff with Loko is a great chance to bring a surprise and evaluate their potential. Krasnodar are trying to get back on track after home loss.

Future

Before the season, Lokomotiv announced they were planning to use club’s home-grown players. That’s what Avtodor have been doing their whole life. 20-year-old Nikita Mikhailovskii (13.0 points, 3.4 rebounds) and Anton Kvitkovskikh (8.2 points, 4.0 rebounds) are key players of the club. 19-year-old Alexander Petenev also has a lot of minutes.

20-year-old Andrey Martiuk (3.0 points and 1.2 rebounds) is one of the brightest young stars of the Red-Greenes. Moreover, they have Sergey Dolinin (20), Vladislav Emchenko (21), Egor Sychkov (19) and Valery Kalinov (21). The 22-year-old Russia national Grigory Motovilov can’t be called a veteran. No doubt, he’s not the only one of the above list to wear national jersey.

Stat

Avtodor and Lokomotiv are top 3 rebounding teams. Saratov (36.8) are ranked 3rd, while Krasnodar are the best with 41.0.
Loko are great in ball movement: 23.0 assists, 1st in the League. Avtodor have 15.2 assists and 12th place.
Avtodor are the best in three-pointers percentage – 45.7%. Krasnodar are ranked 11th with 34.5%.

Familiar faces

Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Evgeny Pashutin played for Avtodor (1992-1994, 1995-1999), and coached the team (2017-2018, 2019).

Pashutin’s assitant Vladimir Antsiferov worked in Avtodor system before moving to Krasnodar this January. Within 11 years in Saratov he coached childs, youth and main teams.

Duel

Drew Gordon vs Alan Williams

Williams’ domination in the paint is the headache for every opponent of Lokomotiv. The center scores 22.8 points, 13.2 rebounds and 30.4 efficiency points, and he’s no.1 in all of these stats. Alan Makiev is one of the candidates to guard Williams, but it’s more likely that his ex-teammate Gordon (Alan and Gordon played for Long Island Nets in NBA’s G League in 2018/19 season) will have to hold him. Playing for Zenit (14.9) and Zielona Gora (18.2), Drew was marked by great stats, high efficiency and dominated the backboards. The Amercian is still trying to find a way to play like him after his move to Saratov. Facing one of the best league players is a chance to shine bright and gain confidence.

Curious stats. Williams recorded the first Eurocup’s double-double in 3 years with 18 rebounds (15+18). Eurocup’s last double-double was made by… Drew Gordon on October 25, 2017 for Zenit against Villeurbanne (20+18).

Speech

Avtodor head coach Gordie Herbert:
“We’ll have an interesting game with Lokomotiv. Their team is extremely talanted, and the coached worked with Avtodor. We were not good against Tsmoki in the first 25 minutes, but stayed in because we never stopped fighting. We played much better as a team in the last 10 minutes. We’ve worked really hard and which helped us. Facing Loko, it’s extremely important to play all 40 minutes in defense, rebounds and details.”

Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Evgeny Pashutin:
“Avtodor is an aggressive team, with a lot of snipers. We must stop their fast break and guard the perimeter. Avtodor have a lot of shooting guys, they create space. We have to be carefull with the snipers, deny open shots, force them on one-on-one and contest the shots. Makiev and Gordon are great in the paint, so we must not lose the rebounds. Away game won’t be easy, but it’s the way it is in Saratov. We’ll have to endure 40 minutes, follow the plan, stay focused and strive for the win. We’ll do the best to win.”