On Friday and Saturday 6 United League regular season games take place.
April 16, Friday
Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus) vs Enisey (Russia)
Time: 19:00 (19:00 МSК)
Venue: Belarus, Minsk, Falcon Club
Broadcast: League’s web-site
Odds by Fonbet: Tsmoki-Minsk — 2,50, Enisey — 1,53
Tsmoki-Minsk: The game against Enisey is, probably, the last game this season where Minsk can break 11-game losing streak and please the fans at home. Next game Tsmoki will hold at home as well, but they’ll face motivated Khimki that still want to outpace Zielona Gora in standings. In the last tour Tsmoki will play against Astana, they have lost once to them this season. It’s interesting that one of two wins in 2020/21 season Tsmoki took over Enisey in the season-opener.
Enisey: However, in that game coronavirus made difference: due to virus Enisey lost few starting players and had to play with cut roster. Now, the Siberians can be considered front-runners despite the fact they play on the road. Much in the game will be influenced by Enisey top scorer Mikhail Kulagin, he averages 14,7 points per game, his shootout with Kris Clyburn may become the jewel of the game. Recall, Kulagin didn’t played in the first round game.
April 17, Saturday
Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia) vs CSKA (Russia)
Time: 13:00 (13:00 МSК)
Venue: Russia, Krasnodar, Basket Hall
Broadcast: Match TV, TV Start
Odds by Fonbet: Lokomotiv-Kuban — 2,95, CSKA — 1,40
Lokomotiv-Kuban: In the game of the week two 2nd place contenders meet. At the moment, Loko and CSKA have 16 wins both, but CSKA are higher in standings as they won first round game. In that game CSKA were extremely motivated after a sensational loss to PARMA and beat Loko leaving no chance. However, now CSKA don’t look like clear front-runners. Evgeny Pashutin’s squad is approaching the game with 7-game winning streak. In addition, since March 30, after they lost to UNICS in EuroCup play-offs, Lokomotiv-Kuban have focused on the United League while CSKA still have to participate in two tournaments. Even though the responsibility is high, the fans expect bright and high-scoring basketball as CSKA and Loko are two top scoring teams in the League (CSKA – 92,7 PPG, Loko – 91,3 PPG). Kuban are also League’s assists leaders – 21,7 assists on average.
CSKA: If Loko participate only in United League games since March, CSKA also play in Euroleague having no time on full recover. In the last Top-16 game CSKA beat Panathinaikos, but it hardly affect their schedule: on April 21 CSKA will have to play in Euroleague play-offs against Fenerbahce. The victory over the Greeks was the 6th straight in Euroleague. It’s interesting that Iffe Lundberg will play against Lokomotiv in the United League for the third time this season, first two he spent in Zielona Gora jersey. He couldn’t win in these games, by the way. After Mike James left CSKA he received more minutes, in the game against Pao Lundberg became the top scorer of the game (19 points).
PARMA (Russia) vs Avtodor (Russia)
Time: 17:30 (15:30 МSК)
Venue: Russia, Perm, UDS Molot
Broadcast: TV Start
Odds by Fonbet: PARMA — 1,34, Avtodor — 3,25
PARMA: The game between Perm and Saratov isn’t such loud as Loko vs CSKA but can be considered one of the main round’s games. Beating in a tough one season leader Zenit, Ural almost clinched first play-offs in history. Recall, formally, PAMA don’t even have to beat Avtodor, it’s enough to lose with a smaller difference than 23 points. In this case, Saratov theoretically can’t outpace PARMA due to devastating loss in the first round, even if wins number is equal PARMA would be higher. Also, PARMA are on the rise now, in last 4 games the team lost only to Nizhny, top-5 team.
Avtodor: Saratov’s situation is much worse. Last Avtodor’s win was on February 28th under Gordie Herbert coaching, after it the team suffered 5 straight defeats. Recall, Volga have to not only beat PARMA but also with 24+ differential. Only twice this season Avtodor managed to win with such big lead, in the games against Kalev and Tsmoki, lower standings teams. It’s interesting that the game against PARMA was Gordie Herbert’s debut as a Saratov head coach, probably, it was crucial defeat for Saratov. One more bad news for fans is that one of leading bigmen Cheick Diallo left.
Astana (Kazakhstan) vs UNICS (Russia)
Time: 19:00 (16:00 МSК)
Venue: Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan, Saryarka Velodrome
Broadcast: League’s web-site
Odds by Fonbet: Astana — 3,75, UNICS — 1,27
Astana: The defeat from CSKA was the third in a row for CSKA. But if they fought against Loko and Nizhny, against CSKA they hadn’t done anything. However, Astana is not to be blamed, before the game against CSKA outbreak of coronavirus was detected in the team, thus Emil Rajkovikj and 5 players didn’t even come to Moscow. Due to this amount of losses, there is no problem to beat Astana, although Kazakhstan will probably approach the game in fighting mood.
UNICS: Like Astana, Kazan spent their last United League game against CSKA and lost too. It happened in late March, after this defeat UNICS were only celebrating victories. In April they won the series against Loko in EuroCup. This week Kazan made another loud victory: they beating Virtus in 3 games, they were considered title contenders, Dimitrios Priftis’ team made EuroCup finals and got to Euroleague next season. The best defensive League’s team UNICS scored 107 points on the road, in the United League Kazan scored more only once. In EuroCup finals UNICS will face Monaco.
Kalev (Estonia) vs Khimki (Russia)
Time: 17:00 (17:00 МSК)
Place: Estonia, Tallinn, Kalevi Spordihall
Broadcast: TV Start
Odds by Fonbet: Kalev — 2,12, Khimki — 1,72
Kalev: In the end of the season schedule isn’t friendly to Tallinn. The game against Khimki will be 5th straight against top-8 teams. However, The Estonians lost chances to get to play-offs and now fight to please the fans and keep Enisey and Astana out of top-10. The only victory over Khimki in 19 games Tallinn took in January 2018, only Sten Sokk, Martin Dorbek and Janari Joesaar are still with the team. Kalev’s mood should be influenced by recently won Estonian-Latvian League’s title, where in decisive game of Final Eight Roberts Stelmahers’ squad beat VEF.
Khimki: Unlike for Kalev, for Khimki this game is important. If Khimki win, they not only outrun the 8th spot (PARMA can catch Khimki in wins number this round) but fight with Zielona Gora for the 6th seed. After this game Khimki will face Tsmoki-Minsk and Avtodor. This week Khimki’s heads ensured team’s confidence removing “acting” in Andrey Maltsev’s position, he has worked for three months and was appointed the head coach of the team.
Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) vs Zenit (Russia)
Time: 18:00 (18:00 МSК)
Venue: Russia, Nizhny Novgorod, CEC Nagorny
Broadcast: Match! Strana, TV Start
Odds by Fonbet: Nizhny Novgorod — 2,00, Zenit — 1,80
Nizhny Novgorod: Zoran Lukic squad are still on fire. On Wednesday, Nizhny took 6th straight victory beating Khimki on the road. Andrey Vorontsevich proved himself again scoring 12+6 and hitting game-winning three in clutch. Via this victory Nizhny clinched at least 5th seed, but they still fight for the 4th. Despite the game against Zenit, Volga will face CSKA and Kalev, and CSKA will surely be motivated.
Zenit: This season Petersburg have already outclassed Nizhny. However, at that moment Volga were having the weakest period of the season losing 4 games in a row before that. The situation has changed now: Nizhny became stronger, while regular season champs are focused on Euroleague play-offs. On April 21st Petersburg will face one of the strongest opponents Barcelona. Probably, in non-decisive game against Nizhny Zenit will give some rest to their key players. Recall, in the game against PARMA Mateusz Ponitka and Kevin Pangos didn’t participate, also head coach Xavi Pascual didn’t come to Perm because of back injury.
