Zenit will host CSKA in the Game of the Week.
Location: Russia, Saint Petersburg, Sibur Arena (capacity 7,120 spectators)
Time: January 17, 2022, 20:00 (Moscow time)
Broadcasts: Match! Strana, VTB United League website
Rivalry
Zenit vs CSKA game! The rivalry between the two famous brands is gaining momentum every season. As part of the VTB United League, the teams have played 22 games since 2014, in 15 the Army team won. In the 2018/19 season, CSKA won Zenit in the League playoffs semifinals . The dry score of that series should not be misleading: Zenit put up fierce competition to the future champion: 98:82, 83:81, 69:68. And then the St. Petersburg team attracted the Euroleague’s attention, received a wild card and now continue to gain positions in Europe.
In the last season, the Army team again stopped Zenit in the semifinals – 3-1.
This season, the teams managed to play in the Euroleague, the Army team got the home win – 77:67. CSKA also beat Zenit in the SuperCup final – 81:73.
Intrigue
The balance of power in the standings promises fans a lot of interesting events in 2022. Before the start of the tour, CSKA (8-2) was in the 1st place, Zenit (7-3) was in the 4th place, but in case of the St. Petersburg team win, the teams will have equal stats, which will make the situation in the leading 4 very tight. UNICS (9-2) and Avtodor (8-2) are also in the Top-4.
The week before
Zenit played the last game on January 4, losing on the road to PARMA. After that, 3 games of the St. Petersburg team (all in the Euroleague) were postponed due to the coronavirus in the team.
CSKA managed to play without postponements and this week was double week in the Euroleague, having won Panathinaikos (98:74) and ASVEL (90:83).
Numbers
CSKA and Zenit are in the leading group not only in the standings, but also in key stats, especially those related to the offense. The St. Petersburg team is in 4th place in total points per game (84.3), 3rd in assists (19.7), 1st in 2-point percentage (62.3) and the last in turnovers (11.6).
CSKA is on the 3rd place in points (86.1), on the 2nd in 2-points percentage (58.2), the 3rd in 3-points percentage (36.1) and the 8th in turnovers (13.1).
The home court factor
CSKA has repeatedly proved that they know how to win in Saint Petersburg. The last road win over Zenit was in May 2021 in the semifinal series.
In 7 home games of the current season, Zenit has won 5 games. CSKA does not have an away complex – the same 5-2.
MVP
Daniel Hackett got into excellent shape in 2022. The Italian guard was twice recognized as the most valuable player of the tour in the Euroleague this week. In the game with Pao, he scored 17 points (6 of 9 from the game), 5 rebounds and 6 assists. In the game with ASVEL, which the basketball player’s father flew to Moscow to watch the game, inspired Daniel to score 27 points (8 of 12 from the field), 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Substitutions in the roster
Zenit at the end of December announced the signing of 23-year-old point guard Tyson Carter, who previously played in Lavrio (Greece). And the American has already been announced for the VTB League games – he took Arturas Gudaitis place in the squad. And the young Zenit player Andrey Toptunov temporarily returns to the Super League-1, where he will play for Novosibirsk.
Why Zenit can win
Teams approach an important game in different situations. If the St. Petersburg players had an opportunity to rest, then CSKA played in a tight schedule. This week, between 2 Euroleague games, the Army team pointed out that recovery at this stage is a key factor for them. In a rivalry between two strong teams, this nuance can be decisive, so freshness and motivation to battle after a pause seem to be the key factor for Zenit.
Why CSKA can win
Zenit had time to rest, but quarantine is hardly a productive pastime, so the potential advantage may turn out to be a problem for CSKA’s opponent. Due to the COVID-19 break, the St. Petersburg players were forced to suspend the training process, which was resumed in not full roster from January 11. It is unknown in what form and in what conditions Zenit players will come out for the Game of the Week. CSKA is gradually gaining momentum. In the games with Pao and Villerban, the Army team got 47 assists in total (24 +23).
“It seems that we’re turning a corner and that is what makes me happy, the unity of the group. Our team is going to find a way to turn the corner, so these players deserve the applause.” Dimitris Itoudis stated after the win over ASVEL.
Who to follow
Tornike Shengelia. In the 1st rivalries game this season, Tornike was on fire: 33 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals with 10 of 16 from the field. After that, Shengelia had health problems, but now he is in good shape again. Zenit has a whole group of players, led by Jordan Mickey, who is preparing to battle with the Georgian forward, but in Moscow Toko easily dealt with opponents one-on-one and was unstoppable in a fast game, scoring a series of impressive dunks. The Shengelia–Mickey duel will be one of the defining on Monday.
Comments
Xavier Pascual, Zenit Head Coach :
– After so many days without games, we are coming back, and it is obvious that we have some problems related to the coronavirus and injured players. But there can be no excuses and there can be nothing else but to be ready for tomorrow’s game and try to do everything possible. Otherwise, we won’t have a chance to beat a great team led by a great coach. In addition, they had problems too, but they have recovered and are in very good shape.
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA Head Coach:
– It’s our third game in seven days, but we have played well, we got the results and we see some progress in our game and it makes us happy. Especially the fact that the team has unity, we found a common word, we communicate better, we fight until the end. Now we have another important game against Zenit which is always a serious and great rival. We gotta go and give it all again.
