Khimki are hosting Lokomotiv-Kuban in a regular season game
Where:
BCMO (4000 seats), Khimki, Russia
When:
December 23, 2019, 19:00 (19:00 MSK)
Broadcast:
Match TV, VTB United League site
Look in the past
Marko Popovic (Khimki) and Malcolm Delaney (Lokomotiv-Kuban) were highlight starts of 2014/15 VTB League. Today, Popovic is assistant to general manager for Zenit, and Delaney came back to Europe to play for Barcelona after seasons in the NBA.
Face to face:
Khimki and Lokomotiv-Kuban have always been competing for the top standings. And Khimki lead in this faceoff: overall record is 15-6, and the Yellow-blues won 7 of the last 10. Moscow region club was also flawless in their last playoff standout (2018 quarterfinals).
Last season, the teams had intense away victories: 84:82 in Khimki and 87:83 in Krasnodar.
Week
Last week, Loko had the most important game of the first half of the season. After unnecessary losses in Eurocup regular season games, Krasnodar found themselves in win or leave situation. Loko had to win the rest of the regular season games to qualify for the next stage. But their trip to Turkey ended up with a dramatic loss to Tofas (90:92) which dropped them to the 5th place and the first time in history they didn’t proceed to Top 16. The Red-greens are the first Russian team to leave the European competitions.
Khimki’s week was better, but not perfect, and more intense. On Wednsday they were beaten by Olympiacos in the OT (98:109), but on Friday the Yellow-blues downed Khimki at home (83:74). Khimki still fight for Euroleague playoffs (8-7 and 7th place).
Intrigue
Loss in Turkey is a big shock for Loko who have signed elite players and set high goals in Europe. Krasnodar’s big dream to come back to Euroleague is still achievable through United League. But their position needs improvement (6-4, 4th place). Today’s Loko is an unpredictable opponent. The team puts full force on VTB League games, and can walk an extra mile after a painful loss. And it sounds like the only way to win in Khimki. Khimki remain flawless in VTB League with 11-0 and surely aim to keep on.
Stat
Khimki and Loko are among League’s Top 3 teams in rebounds (Khimki ranked 3rd with 36.9 per game, Loko are the 2nd with 38.1) and assists (1st, 24.2 vs 3rd, 21.1).
Another crucial stat reveals the difference between the two: 3-point percentage. Khimki are ranked 1st with 43.3%, and Kuban are second to last with 31.7%.
Familiar faces
Khimki fans are familiar with two current Loko players. Vitaly Fridzon (2009-2013), an icon of Moscow region will miss a date with his ex-team due to injury. Stanislav Ilnitskiy spent five season in Khimki (2012-2017). This season, there are no ex-Loko players in Khimki’s roster.
Duel
Alexey Shved vs Sam Dekker.
Shved keeps his level high: season’s top scorer (23,1), best in assists (9.1) and efficiency (25.9). Dekker was a step away from becoming a hero of Krasnodar hero in the game against Tofas. With seconds to go and trailing by 2, he made a shot from beyond the arc, but it was no good. But still he was the one to give Loko chances: 17 points, 8 of 13 field goals, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Ex-NBA players’ duel will be a highlight of the night.
Speech
Khimki head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis:
“Last week, Lokomotiv lost and didn’t get to the next stage of Eurocup, but it’s a great team with skilled players. And still they lack something. They lose with a small gap, and with a new coach, I think the team will get a boost and things will change. I know Evgeny Pashutin for years, he loves fast offensive basketball. Long story short, it’s going to be a tough game.”
Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Evgeny Pashutin:
“Khimki is a balanced team. They score a lot, they are offense-driven team with a lot of snipers and aggressive frontcourt capable of rebounding and alley-oops. Alexey Shved is their main force. Our goal is to stay focused and not allow open shots from the perimeter, and I don’t mean Shved only. Jovic had fantastic stat against Zalgiris. We have to be cautious, contend the shots, control the rhythm and deny Khimki’s attempts to run away, because they are monsters of fast breaks. We have to be intense with their big guys, we need defensive reobunds and second-chance points. We’ll look for their weak spots and play as a team. Khimki are aggressive in defense, so we need offensive ball movement.”
