Zenit will host UNICS in the Game of the Week.
Location: Russia, Saint Petersburg, Sibur Arena (capacity 7,120 spectators)
Time: December 26, 2021, 16:30 (Moscow time)
Broadcasts: Match TV, VTB United League Website
Rivalry
The rivalry between Zenit and UNICS, despite its short history, is of a fundamental nature. In the 2017/18 season, Kazan twice beat the St. Petersburg team in the regular season, and the game in tKazan was the season opening. It ended with the largest difference for such games at that time – 34 points. Zenit’s revenge was sweet – winning the game for 3rd place (93:79).
The brightest game of the teams took place in the semi-finals of the 2016 playoffs, when UNICS defeated Zenit in five games and went to the final, and with it the Euroleague. In the last regular season, St. Petersburg and Kazan teams exchanged home wins – 81:64 in the Sibur Arena and 59:58 in the Basket Hall. The rivalry history between them is 12-8 UNICS lead.
Game layout
Zenit and UNICS played a Euroleague game each this week. The St. Petersburg team withstood Maccabi at home on Thursday and won the game- 73:71. Billy Baron’s 3-point hit 9 seconds before the buzzer was decisive. UNICS lost to Barcelona in the OT on Wednesday – 109:111. This battle turned out to be even more dramatic.
The outcome of the game in St. Petersburg will determine who will become the winter champion of the VTB United League. Having a series of five consecutive wins, UNICS (8-1), if successful, will overtake Avtodor, which has the same ratio, and will finish 2021 in 1st place in the standings. Zenit is currently 4th with a 6-2 result.
Losses
Zenit still has difficulties in their squad. Conner Frankamp and Denis Zakharov still have health problems, Dmitry Kulagin and Jordan Loyd spent the last games with a fever. Jordan Mickey, the most productive and the best pick-up player of Zenit in the League’s season, was forced to finish the game in Monte-Carlo earlier and missed the game with Maccabi, Mindaugas Kuzminskas’ health is also not good.
Star Shabazz Napier continues to recover after suffering an ankle injury at the very beginning of the season.
Offense vs. Defense
At a superficial level, the rivalry can be viewed under such a sign, although in reality everything is more complicated, and the same Zenit, which in this case represents an offense, is quite good for defensive actions. And yet the St. Petersburg team is in the VTB League 3rd in average performance (84.9 points, UNICS 7th), first in assists (20.6, UNICS 7th), first in 2-point percentage (62.9%, UNICS 9th) and third in 3-point percentage (36.4%, UNICS 9th). Kazan, whose calling card under Velimir Perasovic is definitely defense, in turn, are second in the League in opponents points (69.6 points, Zenit 3rd), second in steals (9.4, Zenit 9th) and second in blocks (3.2, Zenit 5th).
Why Zenit can win
Zenit has shown that it is able to give results against the background of player difficulties, and the situation with the injured is gradually improving. The team played the last game on the road on December 17, a rather long period without flights was supposed to help layers to regain strength.
On the side of Zenit, unpredictability also promises to come out. There is no clearly defined leader in the team. If Javier Pascual, when developing a game plan, will focus on deterring Lorenzo Brown and Mario Hezonja, then almost anyone in the squad can shoot at St. Petersburg.
Another factor may well be the mentioned is the Kazan team loss in Barcelona, where they had a 20-point lead in rivalry with the leader and almost the main favorite of the Euroleague. Everything was going very well, but UNICS missed the opponent’s run in the 4th quarter and lost by 2 points in OT. UNICS has recently been strong not only in defense, but also in team spirit. It is unknown how the offensive failure in Barcelona will affect the confidence and mood of the white-greens.
Why UNICS can win
The updated UNICS, after a shake-up at the start of the season, appeared to be one of the best defensive teams, which clearly enjoys what it does with rivals in its half. Еру Kazan players get an additional boost from their numerous successful actions in defense, flying away with pleasure in fastbreaks. If they manage to generate their powerful protective wall in the paint, then the white-greens can thoroughly beat up the already exhausted team in transition. Being in excellent shape, not experiencing serious problems with the squad and claiming sole superiority in the table, UNICS approaches the battle with good motivation.
White and green look confident in St. Petersburg. UNICS has won five away games over Zenit in the VTB League, the last of them in January 2020 in the Sibur Arena. The result of the Kazan team in the road games of the current season should also inspire fans with hope – 3-1.
Who to follow
After the thriller in Barcelona, European basketball publications were full of Isaiah Canaan photos, who puts his index finger to his lips after a 3-point hit in the 4th quarter. Isaiah’s signature move on Wednesday was fatal for UNICS. After that, the local crowd drove Barca to a successful run, coaches Perasovic and Jasikevicius spoke about the importance of the moment after the buzzer.
The involuntary inspirer of the Barcelona comeback is good in offense, and now perhaps, experiencing additional motivation and a desire to rehabilitate in front of his teammates and fans. Wonder if he will risk repeating this move if the game goes on again and Isaiah manages another important shot?
Comments
Xavier Pascual, Zenit Head Coach :
– We have a game against UNICS, he is now among those European teams that are in the best shape. They show great basketball with great confidence and excellent defense. UNICS is the best interception team. There is a good chemistry in their team, they play under the guidance of an experienced coach. Perhaps, at the moment, UNICS has the strongest character in Europe. We have to play perfectly if we want to win. First, it is necessary to control the turnovers and rebounds. Secondly, to act as efficiently as possible, because UNICS punishes for every slightest mistake. I think it will be a great game for the fans. I hope Sibur Arena will be full.
Velimir Perasovic, UNICS Head Coach:
– Zenit is one of the most solid and strong teams in Europe. They have high-class and experienced basketball players in every position, besides they have excellent snipers. I have great respect for the coaching staff. It is important for us not to allow a loss of concentration in the final ten minutes, as happened in Barcelona. In general, I think that the key to winning this game will be how we play defense.
