Lokomotiv-Kuban host UNICS in a regular season game.
Where:
Basket hall (7500 seats), Krasnodar, Russia
When:
October 19, 2019, 17:00 (17:00 MSK)
Broadcast:
Match TV, VTB United League site
Fonbet odds:
Lokomotiv-Kuban win — 1,6
UNICS win — 2,35
«-3,5» for Lokomotiv-Kuban — 1,9
«+3,5» for UNICS — 1,9
Total over/under 156,5 — 1,9
Looking back
2016/17 season: Keith Langford leading UNICS against Loko defense
Face to face:
UNICS and Loko have been meeting for many years in the League and in eurocups. The last season was the case.
In season 2018/19 UNICS beat the rivals twice: 79:75 and 84:77. The teams also played Eurocup quarterfinals, and the white-greens won again: 2-1 in best-of-3 series.
Today, overall record in VTB League’s UNICS vs Loko faceoff is 13-11 for Krasnodar.
Intrigue
This season, CSKA and Khimki–who played the last finals–are the main contenders. Zenit as a new Euroleague team join the group of leaders. Eurocup teams Lokomotiv and UNICS, however, have very serious rosters and aim for the highest standings in all competitions.
But these are only the current stats. Krasnodar and Kazan played two gamees each in this season, and both teams are still establishing. Loko vs UNICS is the second Big five faceoff this season. This game lost will mean unnecessary pressure and negative record in the standings.
Last week
Both teams had French rivals in Eurocup. Lokomotiv-Kuban struggled to get a win over Limoges at home 85:76 on Wednsday. The same day, UNICS met Nanterre on the road. Kazan had it even worse: one minute before the buzzer they were trailing by 4 points, but Erick McCollum and Jamar Smith saved the day – 92:88.
Whoever gets rebounds…
After two games, Loko and UNICS are leading in rebounds per game. Kazan have 40.0, Krasnodar have 39.0.
Offense vs Defense
The average stats describe the playing style of the teams. Fast and aggressive Loko is in Top-3 in points scored (88.0), 2nd best in assists (23.0), 2nd in efficiency (107.5). Solid and cutious UNICS is only 13th in points scored (72.0), but leags in blocks (4.0) and is way better from the arc: 35.6% vs 25.0%
Familiar faces
Basketball traveller Valerii Likhodey last season came back to UNICS. He played 2 seasons in Loko – from 2012 through 2014.
Stat
892 since the last Loko’s win over UNICS in the League. May 12, 2017 Krasnodar won 84:79.
Duel
Dmitriy Kulagin vs Erick McCollum
In the summer, Loko guard had serious eye surgery and missed the World cup in China. Now he is only getting his form back. However, Kulagin is one of Krasnodar leaders as proved in the first two games (13.5 PPG). Moreover, he contributes on both sides of the court, and in the offense, he acts not only as a scorer, but as a floor general as well with 6.5 assists per game.
Russian guard will face Erick McCollum, although he is not the only leader of UNICS: Kazan have plenty of skilled players. But McCollum can’t be stopped once he gets hot with his shot. His three-pointers were not stable in the first games, but in Krasnodar Erick will be motivated to prove himself a sniper.
