CSKA hosts Zenit in a regular season showdown
Where:
USH CSKA (capacity 5000), Moscow, Russia
When:
October 7, 2019,19:30 (19:30 MSK)
Broadcast:
Match TV, VTB United League site
Face to face:
CSKA vs Zenit! The rivalry of the brands is picking up steam. The teams have played fourteen times since 2014, and the army club won eleven games.
Last season, Zenit won in St. Petersburg 93:86. That was the first loss of CSKA in that regular season. The red-blues paid back at home 83:73, and passed through Petersburg in League semifinals. The series ended 3-0, but Zenit resisted: 98:82, 83:81, 69:81.
St Petersburg have never won CSKA in Moscow.
Looking back
Intrigue
New season is going to be the most competitive in League history. CSKA has new concept and new roster: the team is under construction. Khimki’s offseason was epic and now they are really ambitious, UNICS and Lokomotiv-Kuban traditionally set high goals. Zenit has a new team due to Euroleague debut. Mondays are tough, but not for the League fans. Spectators will see one of the most intriguing games in the beginning of the season. The first game within the Big five.
Week
CSKA made amends for bad start in Krasnoyarsk beating PARMA 89:74, and made a terrific start in Euroleague at Valencia 96:71. Zenit’s week was less stable: they started well in VTB League against Zielona Gora 92:76, but later suffered painful loss in Euroleague at Alba 65:85.
Injuries
Injuries of the front court are a nightmare for Zenit. Anton Pushkov was injured in Poland to miss three weeks. Gustavo Ayon broke a nose in Berlin, and Andrey Zubkov got a leg injury. It’s a question if they can face CSKA. Zenit head coach Joan Plaza made a sad joke about his assistants getting on the court on Monday,
Khvostov back?
Khvostov’s recovery could be a gift for Zenit. Russian playmaker tore cruciate ligaments on April 1, 2019 in game against Khimki. He hasn’t stepped on court since then. It was told that Kvostov started regular practices and was ready to come back.
3-pointer threat
The red-blues made 17 3-pointers against Valencia. It’s not only quantity that amazes, but quality as well: CSKA made 31 shots from downtown (54,8%). It’s curious that they had the same percentage of 2-pointers: 17 of 31. Darrun Hilliard made 5 of 9 long range shots.
Even the Golden State with Clay Thompson can’t maintain this kind of stability, but Plaza will have to figure out how to stop this fire.
Familiar faces
CSKA fans of 2000s remember Zenit captain Evgeny Voronov.
Anton Ponkrashov played for the red-blues from 2006 through 2010, and from 2011 through 2013. These games are special for him. Last season, playing for UNICS, he attacked CSKA at +10 and seconds before the buzzer. The reaction was harsh, teams started fighting, as a result, Kyle Hines was disqualified. This will be the first time Anton meets CSKA since April.
Duel
Mike James vs Will Thomas.
At the offseason, James said he was in good shape and got used to Itoudis’ playbook. This was more than a regular talk to the media, this was true. 2018/19 Euroleague best sniper heats up CSKA offense: 11, 25 and 20 points in the first three games, and Euroleague week 1 MVP.
Thomas was probably the only thing that was good about Zenit in Berlin: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 of 3 from beyond the arc. 2018/19 Eurocup final MVP has the experience and the ability to make a difference in key moments. The game against CSKA will be this type of moment.
