In the Game of the Week, CSKA will host UNICS.
Location: Russia, Moscow, Megasport (13344 spectators)
Time: February 7, 2022, 19:30 (Moscow time)
Broadcasts: Match! TV, League website
Rivalry
CSKA and UNICS have met many times both in regular season games and in the playoffs. The Army team significantly outperform the opponent in wins total. In the VTB League, the balance is 22-6 for CSKA, although the last success for today was made by UNICS. In the 1st round game in Kazan, Velimir Perasovic’s team defeated the opponent – 69:64. This season, the UNICS managed to beat CSKA in Moscow on December 15 in the Euroleague game, and they did not leave the opponent a chance (88:67). CSKA took revenge on January 28 in Kazan (86:75).
The last top game of the teams was not so long ago – in the final series of the League last season. CSKA confidently beat UNICS in 3 games.
Intrigue
As in November, the 2 last season finalists are approaching the next duel as the leaders of the standings. CSKA and UNICS then had 4-1 records, now the Kazan team, which won in the first round, is in the 1st playce (10-2), and CSKA is the 2nd (9-3).
The battle of two giant teams in Megasport will become one of the key games again – this time in the 2nd half of the season. Given the stability of the two top teams, it will be extremely important in the standings.
Previous week
The teams are approaching an important game after the double week in the Euroleague. CSKA played at home with Efes and Alba. With the Turkish team, the Army team lost by 13, then led by 15, but eventually lost in overtime (97:99). The game with the German club, CSKA returned to winning – 91:72.
UNICS spent a week on the road. The Kazan team played with Alba and Zalgiris. Alba defeated UNICS (81:53). And in Kaunas, UNICS managed to rehabilitate – 76:67.
Numbers
4 – CSKA won all the games on the home court this season in the League. As mentioned earlier, in the Euroleague game, UNICS showed they can win in Moscow.
Losses
CSKA played the game against Alba without injured Tornike Shengelia, Johannes Vogtmann and Alexandr Khomenko. Joel Bolomboy and Will Clyburn came out and played with injuries. The Army team even had to recall Aleksandr Evseev from the youth team.
Serious losses of the Army team were not only in the roster. Head Coach Dimitris Itoudis missed a week due to illness.
Motivation
UNICS President adviser Bogdan Bogachev – on the option of signing Alexey Shved in the off-season-2021: “We weren’t interested in him. He is a talented, good player, but we built the team differently.”
Strengthening
CSKA announced the signing of the most productive player of the Turkish League, Allerik Freeman this week. As part of Bursaspor, the 27-year-old American scored 20.5 points on average per game with 49.4% from behind the arc.
Freeman is added to the VTB League roster and can make his debut for CSKA in a game with UNICS.
Comeback
UNICS also strengthened the squad by returning John Holland to the team, who played in Kazan last season. Holland’s averages in League games then were 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals.
Why CSKA can win
2 losses from UNICS gave the Army team’s coaching staff something to think about. In the January game in Kazan, CSKA was ready for the defense and offense of the Kazan team and throughout the game demonstrated effectiveness in offense.
The reigning League champion also showed a great defense In general, CSKA have shown that they know the winning formula in the games with UNICS and are able to apply it in practice.
The schedule is also work for the Army team: CSKA got the last road game on January 28 in Tatarstan, since then staying in Moscow and avoiding any flights. UNICS has different situation: having hosted CSKA in the Basket Hall, the Kazan team makes a tour along the route Berlin – Kaunas – Moscow.
Why UNICS can win
CSKA is not stable this season, they are causing an imbalance and frequent injuries, so it is unknown whether the Army team will be able to repeat the exemplary game in Kazan. In the December game in Moscow, everything was just the opposite – UNICS best qualities highlighted the weaknesses of CSKA. The defense worked out well in the absence of a person in the red-blue back line who could stably threaten penetration into the paint, and problems with the transition regularly allowed the excellent Kazan players to regularly score successful possessions in defense.
The last week was also bad for the Army team’s health, the team already lost mentioned Shengelia, Vogtmann and Khomenko. Roster problems against the background of the double week of the Euroleague could not but affect CSKA – the increase load fell on healthy players.
Who to follow
Nikola Milutinov looks more and more like the very elite bigman that CSKA signed in 2020. The Serbian center has recovered from injuries, is getting in shape and looks more and more confident.
In the last Euroleague game with Alba, Nikola updated his personal best with CSKA, scoring 21 points, and became the MVP of the round. In the January game in Kazan, Milutinov was also one of the main UNICS problems: 17 points, 6 of 7 from the field, 7 rebounds, 2 assists.
