In the regular season game UNICS to host Lokomotiv-Kuban
Where:
Russia, Kazan, Basket Hall (capacity 7000 spectators)
When:
April 25, 2021, 14:00 (14:00 МSК)
Broadcasts:
Match TV, VTB United League web-site
Frame from the past
Season 2015/16: UNICS guard Keith Langford tries to steal the ball from Loko forward Anthony Randolph
Face to face
UNICS and Lokomotiv have repeatedly met in the VTB League and European competitions during the long-term confrontation. In the last regular season, the Krasnodar club interrupted a protracted streak without victories in the rivalry with Kazan in the League, beating the White-greens at home with a score of 86:77. The previous success of the Kuban team in games against the club from Tatarstan took place 893 days before.
In the 2018/19 season, UNICS won twice in the League, and also passed the main rival in the EuroCup quarterfinals – 2-1 in the series. In the November first round game, Loko prevailed – 93:81, but in March the teams met again in the 1/4 of the Eurocup. The White-Greens took the series 2-1, and then passed Virtus in the semi-finals and secured a ticket to the Euroleague.
Overall score in Lokomotiv-Kuban vs UNICS League’s confrontation is 15-11 in Krasnodar favor.
Last week
UNICS played two league games this week. On Tuesday, Kazan beat PARMA at home (69:51), and on Thursday – Enisey (84:77) in Krasnoyarsk. Krasnodar’s last game for today was held on April 17, thus they will have an advantage in terms of fatigue.
Intrigue
The regular season kept the intrigue until the very last day. UNICS (18-5), Lokomotiv (17-6) and CSKA (16-7) are fighting for the distribution of places from 2nd to 4th. The layouts are quite simple. Kazan residents have already guaranteed themselves a position in the Top-3. In case of a victory over the Kuban team, they will retain their 2nd place, in case of defeat they will definitely finish third – the red-greens will have an advantage in head-to-head meetings, and they will push the opponent down a line below. Loko is inferior to CSKA in terms of the difference in personal fights, and in case of an unsuccessful outcome of the game of the week and the victory of the army team over Nizhny Novgorod in Moscow, they will be the 4th.
Finals factor
Already on Tuesday, April 27, UNICS will play the first game of the Eurocup final series against Monaco in Monte Carlo. Kazan residents in every possible way emphasize that a ticket to the Euroleague is not enough for them and the team dreams of a trophy. Two fights this week, the white-greens nevertheless carried out the optimal composition and radical experiments in terms of the roster on Sunday from Dimitrios Priftis should not be expected. But there will be certain changes, as the president of the club, Yevgeny Bogachev, said:
“A common game for us with Lokomotiv. A mixed line-up will be released. I think the Russian guys will get more playing time. We will give some of the leaders a rest in front of AS Monaco, some will play.”
The second game of the final series takes place on April 30, Friday, at Basket Hall. The third if needed, the same arena on Sunday, May 2.
MVP
UNICS captain Jamar Smith is named EuroCup-20/21 MVP. Kazan are now the only team in history to have two MVPs (in 2014 Andrew Gaudelock was named).
Jamar is also included in the first team of the season, in the second there are Mantas Kalnietis from Loko and John Brown III.
Home court advantage
The last victory of UNICS over Lokomotiv in the League in Kazan took place a long time ago – on October 14, 2018 (79:75). But the citizens of Kazan do not have any “home” Basket Hall complex. In the Eurocup, the white-greens won twice on their site as recently as March.
UNICS are one of the best home teams in the League (10-1). Loko also look better at home (11-1), on the road the situation is tougher (6-5).
Stats
Lokomotiv-Kuban is in 2nd place in terms of average scoring (91.8 points), UNICS is in the middle of the list – 7th place (82.0) Krasnodar leads in two other key categories – rebounds (38.1) and in assists (21.9). Kazan are 7th (34.3) and 11th (16.2) according to the corresponding indicators.
UNICS are third in three-point percentage (38,4), Lokomotiv are 11th (35,3).
Both teams lose the ball rarely. UNICS are 11th with 12,6 turnovers per game, Loko (12,7) are 10th.
Familiar faces
Loko head coach Evgeny Pashutin has twice headed UNICS (2010-2012 and 2014-2017). UNICS forward Pavel Antipov spent the 2017/18 season in Krasnodar.
Duel
Jordan Theodore vs Nigel Williams-Goss
Considering the announced rest of the leaders, the role of Theodore should increase, who during the season repeatedly acted for UNICS as an x-factor. We already saw something similar during the fight in Krasnoyarsk, where the guard played a record 30 minutes for himself in the season, gaining 9 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists.
Williams-Goss’ averages in the recent EuroCup quarterfinal series with UNICS is 21.6 points and 6.0 assists. No in-depth analysis or having access to Priftis’s scout report is needed to understand who will pose the main threat in Lokomotiv’s line-up on Sunday’s match of the week.
Comments
UNICS head coach Dimitrios Priftis:
– It will be a tough game after a few games this week and a tough trip. Loko is a good team, of high quality, they can score from many positions. They play at high pace and are difficult to stop. We need to handle the injuries and difficult times.
Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Evgeny Pashutin:
– There will be a battle for second place in Kazan. We have to play very carefully against the opponent’s shooters on the perimeter, limit their free throws and act competently in defense against fast breaks. In the paint, you need to be ready for physical contact, the aggressive game of “big” opponents. They have to act in their own style in offense, play smart basketball with good ball movement. We are seriously preparing ourselves for this game, we will only play to win in order to end the regular season on a good note.
