Lokomotiv-Kuban wil host Zenit in a regular season game.
Where:
Basket Hall (7500 seats), Krasnodar, Russia
When:
December 13, 2020, 16:00 (16:00 MSK)
Broadcast:
Match!Strana, VTB United League website
Look in the past
Face to face
2018/19 season was opened by these teams. Krasnodar left no chance for the opponent in that game reaching the largest margin for League’s season openers – 96:64 (+32). The second round played in Petersburg also saw Loko victorious – 94:78. Zenit took revenge in the playoff. Even though Kuban had home court advantage, Saint P were confident with a 3-1 win. Last season, Loko were on track again – 86:80 in Saint Petersburg and 78:70 in Krasnodar.
Overall record is 10-6 for Krasnodar.
Last week
Lokomotiv and Zenit faced Spanish clubs last week. In Eurocup, Krasnodar beat Andorra on the road – 106:100. Loko surpassed the 105-point level for the third time this season which is a record for the tournament.
Zenit’s Spanish trip was even more intense. Delayed game against Valencia (85:72) on Tuesday and Thursday game against Real (72:79).
Intrigue
Lokomotiv will be the second Big five team to face Zenit in seven days. Last Sunday, UNICS failed to break their winning streak. However, Krasnodar’s issue now is to rebuild the team to play without injurred Alan Williams. This will be their second game without Alan, and in the first one they were beaten by PARMA (where they also lacked Mantas Kalnietis who is back in the roster now).
However, the trip to Andorra brings hope. Kuban use Kevin Hervey and Reggie Lynch in the paint a lot. Stanislav Ilnitsky and Mindaugas Kuzminskas help with their mobility. New scheme is pacing up, and it is a perfect chance to test it against a leading team.
Zenit’s challenge is that it’s 5th game in 11 days. As told by Xavi Pascual, the main reason of away loss in Madrid is the lack of energy.
Court factor
Zenit beat Loko in Krasnodar only once, on March 25, 2017. This season, Loko are undefeated in Basket Hall (4-0), and Zenit are flawless in away games (2-0).
Stat
Loko and Zenit are in top 3 teams in points per game. Krasnodar are ranked 2nd with 89.4, and Zenit’s 3rd with 88.1 Petersburg also have the best defense with 69.6 points allowed. Both team are good in ball movement: 21.1 assists and 2nd place for Loko, 19.6 and 4th for Zenit.
The Red-greens struggle with the free throws – 71.7% and 12th place. Zenit are ranked 3rd with 79.7%. The same applies to 3-pointers: 35.9% and 12th place for Loko, 42.5% and 3rd place for Petersburg.
Lokomotiv are currently the best in rebounds (42.4), while Zenit are ranked 5th (33.7).
Familiar faces
Zenit’s roster presents six ex-Loko players. Mateusz Ponitka and Dmitry Khvostov wore red-green jersies in 2018/19. Andrey Zubkov will also have a special game being in Zenit’s colours in Basket Hall for the second time.
Denis Zakharov couldn’t perform at his best in 2016/17 Loko season, so he left. K C Rivers played in Krasnodar long time ago, in 2011/12. Vitaly Fridzon was Loko’s captain for the last two seasons.
Grigory Motovilov moved with Triumph to Petersburg and spent three years in Zenit system: 2015-2018. He didn’t make it to the main roster, so he moved to Superleague 1, but his great performance at the World Cup in China helped him get back to the League.
Duel
Kevin Hervey vs Alex Poythress
With Williams out, Hervey is the key element of Loko’s frontcourt. He played 35 minutes in Spain with great stat: 23 points (season high) and 13 rebounds. Athletic Poythress will try to stop him. Defense is not his only skill: he can shoot from beyond the arc, but the main action is in the paint. If you leave the American there, he will definitely make it to weekly highlight reel. Ex-NBA players’ duel will be crucial to this game.
Матч недели в воскресенье: «Локо» принимает «Зенит»!
«Зенит» на пути к своему лучшему старту в истории. Но сможет ли @zenitbasket добыть рекордную 8-ю победу в Краснодаре против @lokobasket?
📺 Начало игры – 16:00, прямая трансляция на канале «Матч! Страна» и на сайте Лиги! pic.twitter.com/bTOyGGSBPm
— VTB League (@VTBUL) December 12, 2020
Speech
Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Evgeny Pashutin:
“Zenit lead VTB League and are a dangerous opponent. The use the perimeter, almost all starting five players score at least 10 points per game. We have to be careful with Pangos and control the opposing shooters, dominate the rebounds like in the last game. We will be focused at all times and fight for the win!”
Zenit head coach Xavi Pascual:
“We beat Zenit and want to follow that way. We know we’re facing a team with great offense and a great coach. Even though we go to Krasnodar after a row of difficult games, we have to find the energy for the victory.”
