In a regular season game CSKA to host Khimki.
Where:
Russia, Moscow, USH CSKA (capacity 5000 spectators)
When:
March 15, 2021, 19:30 (19:30 МSК)
Broadcast:
Match TV, United League web-site
Frame from the past
Face to face:
CSKA and Khimki have played 116 games against each other. CSKA leads in this rivalry 95-21. The stat for all seasons in the league is 25-9 in favor of the Red and Blue.
Despite the fundamental nature of the game and their status as the main antagonist pair in Russian basketball, CSKA are ahead of their rival by a significant margin. In particular, not so long ago Khimki had a long series of losses to CSKA in the League – from February 2015 to March 2019. Right now, however, the unsuccessful streak is already dragging on for CSKA. A victory over their neighbors in June 2019 allowed them to close out the final series and win the trophy, but it is the last one so far. In the 2019/20 season, Khimki defeated CSKA in a League game in January (96-80), and in the first-round game of the current season, the yellow and blue took the lead with a score of 86-78.
In December’s Euroleague game CSKA won Khimki 96:87
Last week
On Thursday, CSKA lost at home to Milan (74-86) in a Euroleague game. Khimki faced Crvena Zvezda on the road on the same day and also lost, 81-92.
Intrigue
This Derby is a special day on the calendar for the two clubs and their fans. CSKA and Khimki players make no secret of the fact that they will be facing their neighbor in a standout game. The mood on Monday is going to be through the roof. Both teams are united by the fact that the end of winter and the beginning of spring were a difficult period for both. CSKA struggled through a conflict with Mike James and the loss of Nikola Milutinov for the rest of the season and injuries to key players; they signed Gabriel Lundberg and Michael Eric. CSKA has a lot of failures: we still can remember the setbacks against Zielona Gora and Kalev, the -30 game against Anadolu Efes, as well as the 10:30 loss in the first quarter and the defeat against AC Milan this week.
Khimki’s troubles are even more global. Khimki have survived the retirement of Rimas Kurtinaitis, parted ways with three foreigners and are without Devin Booker and Stefan Jovic, fighting on two fronts with a limited roster. They have lost their playoff chances in Euroleague, but are 8-8 in the League and fighting for a spot in the top eight at this point.
The last game against Zenit proved that it’s too early to write Khimki off. A success in the derby would give them back their hopes and confidence.
Comment
CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis spoke about his motivation after the game against Milan: “Look at me. Do you see me giving up, or do you see a person who is fighting? I will fight with everyone. I have more motivation than anyone in this building and beyond. Fame, money, I’ve had it all in my life. I’ve accomplished a lot. I’m an accomplished person. But I still have more energy than anybody else. I have a job that I have to do.”
Home factor
Since January, CSKA, considering the Euroleague, had enourmous losing streak at home: 1-6 in their last seven games.
Khimki have been more assured on the road this season, going 5-3 (3-5 at home).
Losses
Khimki played their last two games without their leader Aleksei Shved, as well as Stefan Jovic, Janis Timma and Devin Booker.
CSKA, on the other hand, played against Milan with a nearly optimal lineup.
Stats
CSKA leads the season in scoring (92.6), while Khimki is in fourth place (86.2). Many of CSKA shots are 3-pointers – CSKA are at 3rd place in shots from beyond the arc percentage (39.3). Khimki are at 11th place (35.0).
Both teams are very careful with the ball. CSKA has the fewest turnovers (11.7), while Khimki are trailing their prominent opponent (12.0).
Familiar faces
Egor Vyaltsev (2003-04), Sergey Monya (2002-05), Evgeny Voronov (2011-13), Anton Ponkrashov (2009-13) and Alexey Shved (2005-12, including appearances for youth team and short leases) played for CSKA in different years. Acting head coach Andrei Maltsev worked for a long time in CSKA team’s youth project.
There are no former players from Khimki in the CSKA roster.
Matchup
Mike James vs. Errick McCollum.
In Khimki’s absence, McCollum has taken over as the team’s primary playmaker. On Thursday in Belgrade he had 29 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, while before that he became the main hero of his Saint Petersburg game, scoring three long-range shots in the final minutes. A key force in CSKA’s offense, James has steadily taken on similar responsibilities – scoring, rebounding and the decisive clutch shots – throughout the season. The two Americans should be the key players of the derby.
