CSKA will face Lokomotiv Kuban in the Game of the Week.
Location: Russia, Moscow, Megasport
Time: November 12, 16:30
Broadcast: TV Start Triumph, Match TV, League website
CSKA is going undefeated and preparing to face Loko, which prevented the Moscow team from reaching the League Finals for the first time in its history.
Rivalry history
CSKA versus Loko is one of the biggest rivalries in the recent Russian basketball history. The Krasnodar team representatives had the unofficial title of CSKA most uncomfortable opponent in the regular seasons.
In the 2023/24 season, CSKA dominated the entire regular season. And the Army team not only beat Loko, but did so confidently, with a minimum difference of 16 points – 84:64, 94:80, 98:66 and 94:74.
But Loko got back for these 4 consecutive losses in the Playoffs. In the Semifinals to 4 wins, the Krasnodar team that prevailed, taking the decisive Game 7 in overtime on the road (103:100 OT).
After the offseason, the teams already had 1 more super game: in the SuperCup 2023 Quarterfinals, Loko knocked CSKA out in overtime (100:98 OT), and even Casper Ware, who scored 44 points, didn’t save the Army team!
New season
CSKA underwent a major upgrade over the summer: both Alexey Shved and Nikola Milutinov left, and head coach Emil Rajkovic had to build a new playmaking model from scratch. Hardly anyone could have imagined that by mid-November the Moscow team would be the only undefeated!
At this stage of the season, the team looks like a true machine, ready to beat a top team on the road and to win in decisive moments against mid-standings teams and newcomers. Not surprisingly, after such a start CSKA will be favourite against Loko.
Especially since the Krasnodar team is not doing as well as their fans would like. That’s surprising as Loko has managed to retain almost the entire last season squad, but the team is only 7th in the standings with 4 wins and 5 losses.
The Krasnodar team lacks stability. The season started 1-4, including losses against PARMA, Samara, Uralmash and Enisey. Then Loko seemed to reset and start a winning streak, but after 3 wins the team unexpectedly lost in Astana on Thursday.
Why can CSKA win?
Several factors should be pointed out. CSKA is statistically stronger than Loko in almost every aspect: better offensively (86.6 points – 79.8 points) and better defensively (73.3 – 79.2), assisting more often (20.0 assists – 16.8 assists) and losing the ball less often (10.9 turnovers – 12.9 turnovers).
In addition, CSKA hasn’t been on the road for over a week and had a great opportunity to recover from previous home game against Samara on Wednesday. Loko had a tough flight to Astana on Thursday, after which the team need only 3 days to prepare for their game with the League leader.
The main objective for Rajkovic coaching staff is to get their charges psychologically right. If CSKA avoids underestimating the opponent and follows game plan, it can extected to get another win.
Why can Loko win?
Aleksander Sekulic team is clearly not playing at its best so far: having one of the worst three-point shooting in the League (30.1%), and losing games in the endings.
But what Loko clearly should be fine with is motivation. The team had a tense game against Astana (68-78) and simply has to rehabilitate. A game with CSKA is almost the best way to do that. Firstly, the team has a chance to defeat CSKA for the first time this season, and secondly the team need to move up in the standings to avoid falling into Group B in the second stage of the regular season.
Rivalry
Casper Ware vs Aleksandr Scherbenev.
Both teams have strong players who will surely prove on Sunday. Still, it will be interesting to watch the duel between the two point guards.
Ware is the engine of this CSKA team, running the team’s offense. The guard wisely distributes his energy and gets involved at important moments, which was seen against PARMA, for example. That game was Casper’s best of the season: 23 points, 6 assists and 2 steals.
Scherbenev still lacks stability: good games alternate with bad and Aleksandr has played less than 20 minutes several times this season. But facing CSKA is not an ordinary in a long regular season. After all, Scherbenev was one of the Semifinals series and made a huge contribution to Loko reaching the Finals. Will the young guard be able to prepare and show his best in Moscow?
