In a regular season game UNICS will host Khimki.
Where:
Russia, Kazan, Basket Hall (capacity 7000 spectators)
When:
November 22, 2020, 13:00 (13:00 MSK)
Broadcasts:
Match TV, VTB United League web-site
Frame from the past
Kresimir Loncar (#10) and Zoran Planinic (#34) have no option but to watch Terrell Lyday (#4) driving to the Khimki’s basket
Face to face:
Khimki and UNICS confrontation became principled long time ago. Teams had many memorable and meaningful games, the last one was in 2019 play-offs. Losing 0-1 in the series Khimki managed to take 3 consecutive victories and made it to the final.
In a regular season 2019/20 Khimki were ahead again. The November game in the first round wasn’t typical for these two team, Khimki won 109:83. 26 points is the second biggest difference in the history of their confrontation. At Basket Hall Khimki won 98:88.
The overall score is 15:9 in favour of Khimki. The last time UNICS won was in the mentioned play-off series, on May 22, 2019 (96:91). Further 5 games were won by Moscow team.
Last week
UNICS and Khimki played 2 games each in European competitions.
Considering game in Poland against Zielona Gora Kazan made an exhausting European tour. On Tuesday the Green-Whites lost to Partizan (86:89) in Serbia but on Thursday outclassed Bourg in France (86:74).
Khimki beat Zenit is Saint-Petersburg on Thursday (88:83) in Euroleague but then lost badly to Anadolu Efes at home (77:105).
Intrigue
UNICS and Khimki are front-runners as usual but the beginning of the season wasn’t a success for these teams. Teams are struggling and have similar difficulties: miscommunication, lack of team chemistry in general and unstable game by leaders Isaiah Canaan and Alexey Shved. As for Kazan it’s linked with roster rejuvenation in the off-season. The Yellow-Blues saved the main players but suffered a lot from injuries and coronavirus.
Before the victory in France UNICS had a streak with 4 losses in 6 games, Khimki had the best streak for them this season so far, taking 3 Ws in 4 games and beating CSKA and Zenit. However, on Thursday there were -28 against Efes that showed that planned shape still isn’t achieved. Both opponents will be extremely motivated, this game is important from the standings point of view as well. 2-2 and 3-4 are not the expected records for two contenders by December.
Home Arena
Although the start of the season isn’t good for UNICS, they lost only 1 home game this season, on October 28th against Joventut. Overall home record is 5-1, in the United League 2-0.
Stats
UNICS are 4th in 3-point percentage (41,9%), Khimki are worst in the League in this indicator (30,5%).
Kazan are 3rd best in offensive rebounds (12,5) but Khimki aren’t far behind – 11,6 and 5th place. With the average stat of 3,6 block per game Khimki are second best in the league, UNICS make 1,3 block per game and hold 11th place in this indicator.
Return
On Friday UNICS announced signing Jordan Theodore. The American looked good last season when he joined the team during the season, just like now. In the VTB United League he averages 10,3 points, 4,5 rebounds and 7,0 assists per game.
Он вернулся!🚀
⠀
БК УНИКС подписал соглашение до конца сезона с разыгрывающим Джорданом Теодором, который покинул наш клуб в это межсезонье по истечению контракта✅ pic.twitter.com/fYgGYwCXoj— BC UNICS Kazan (@unicsbasket) November 20, 2020
Familiar faces
Khimki has 2 newcomers that were playing for UNICS earlier. Evgeny Voronov played for Kazan in 2016/17 season. Nevertheless, Errick McCollum’s appearance at Basket Hall will be more important, the first one since he left Tatarstan in 2020 off-season.
McCollum had played for Kazan since 2018 to 2020 and was one of UNICS leaders. In both seasons he was team’s best scorer – 14,1 and 19,9 points per game. Errick joined Khimki with a delay this season, but from the very beginning took an important role in the offense and contributed a lot in latest games.
Duel
Jamar Smith vs Alexey Shved
Smith is one of the few players who plays stable. Jamar leads UNICS in scoring in the League (14,0 points) and Eurocup (18,0) and doesn’t forget about passing (4,5 and 5,1 assists). Khimki’s leader Shved is team’s best scorer too but he still can’t find his rhythm and find his shot. In the victory against CSKA Khimki’s leader made 2 of 10 threes, 0 from 5 against Efes and only in the game vs Zenit we saw normal Alexey – 24 points, 8 of 17 from the field. Shved’s shape will directly influence the Sunday game result.
Comments
UNICS head coach Dimitrios Priftis:
– We will have another difficult game after a tight tour that we’ve been through for last 12 days. As for Khimki, it is well-known that it is a qualified team with lots of experienced players. The team found its rhythm recently and started playing better. We have to show our maximum to be competitive and handle our fatigue and losses. We will do our best and will fight.
Khimki head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis:
– The game against Anadolu Efes showed that we hadn’t enough energy as we were counting on other. However, now all the teams play like this, we have to play in other way: control the game more, avoid early shots. The game against UNICS is ahead and we know what we have to do. With such rhythm the game won’t be high paced, thus tactical moments will be more important. I am not satisfied with our latest game, we played it wrong way. I hope, now we will be in the right frame of mind.
