Recent defeats to Astana and Enisey have put Avtodor and Nizhny Novgorod in a tight spot. With only a month to go in the regular season, the two teams are in serious danger of missing the postseason, but there is still time to make a move. Here is what the race for the postseason looks like right now.
It’s not a great spot to be in with little to no margin for error remaining. But there’s still hope, especially if one of these teams can catch fire down the stretch and put pressure on the teams above them in the standings.
Avtodor and Nizhny Novgorod may want to take a look at recent history for motivation. Over the VTB League’s past eight seasons, several teams have made miraculous comebacks down the stretch, squeezing into the playoffs at the last moment.
2010-11 Season
Turnaround: Azovmash (Ukraine)
Engineers: Ramel Curry, Chris Owens, Fred House, Demetrius Alexander, Maksym Pustozvonov
Standings with three games remaining in the regular season
Finish: 3-0
For the teaser, let’s look back on Azovmash’s frantic playoff push in 2011. 12 teams competed in the League that season, divided into two groups. Only two teams from each group advanced to the Final Four.
Azovmash ended up being grouped with Khimki, Zalgiris and Prokom. Early in the season, no one expected the Ukrainian club to compete for a spot in the next round. A 1-2 start didn’t help.
But Azovmash started to hit its stride, taking down Zalgiris at home in an upset (75-63). Still, Kaunas appeared to be in the driver’s seat for 2nd place. With three games remaining, the Lithuanians led by a game and could clinch with a win over Azovmash at home in the final weeks.
Azovmash, however, had other plans. Led by Fred House’s 21 points, the visitors kept the game close. In the final minutes, Zalgiris began to crumble and Azovmash was able to to knock down some shots, escape with the win and advance to the Final Four.
The Ukrainians struggled in the postseason, going up against UNICS, Khimki and CSKA, but their run to the Final Four will always be a part of League history.
Final Standings: 2nd place in the group (7-3), advanced to Final Four (4th place).
2012-13 Season
Turnaround: Donetsk (Ukraine)
Engineers: Ramel Curry, Darius Songaila and D’or Fischer
Standings with four games remaining in the regular season
Finish: 4-0
Donetsk in 2013 had a strikingly similar predicament to Avtodor and Nizhny Novgorod in 2017. After a loss to Astana, the Ukrainians’ playoff hopes went on life support given the three-game deficit with four games to go.
But the Tigers didn’t give up. Despite a challenging schedule, including games against Krasnye Krylia, Spartak and Lietuvos Rytas (each above the Ukrainians in the standings), Donetsk went to work.
Led by Ramel Curry, Darius Songaila and D’or Fischer, the underdogs went a perfect 4-0 down the stretch. The biggest win came against Lietuvos Rytas (95-79) at home, giving Donetsk the tiebreaker over Vilnius (Rytas won at home by two points earlier in the season) and possession of 6th place.
Final Standings: 6th place in the group (9-9), advanced to first round (lost to Lokomotiv-Kuban, 2-0).
2013-14 Season
Turnaround: Krasny Oktyabr (Russia)
Engineers: Von Wafer, Bernard King, Marcus Cousin, Cuthbert Victor, Willie Deane
Standings on February 21, 2014
Finish: 4-1
Volgograd had an up-and-down debut season in the League. After a dramatic overtime win against Tsmoki-Minsk to open the campaign (113-112), the losses started to pile up. The team went into crisis in January, dropping out of the playoff zone due to a four-game losing streak. With players coming and going, the team struggled with chemistry and the results were reflected in the loss column.
Ex-NBA guard Von Wafer’s arrival changed everything. He only played six games in the League, but that was enough to rescue Oktyabr’s season. The Steelmen were also able to make another big signing, luring Bernard King from Donetsk. King fit in right away, even recording a historic triple-double (16 points+11 rebounds+11 assists).
With Wafer and Deane combining for 39.8 points per game and King and Cousin providing support, Krasny Oktyabr got back to winning. Only CSKA could stop Volgograd down the stretch as the Russian club surged to wins against Neptunas, VEF, Tsmoki-Minsk and Azovmash and advanced to the postseason.
Final Standings: 6th place in the group (8-10), advanced to first round (lost to Lokomotiv-Kuban, 2-0).
2014-15 Season
Turnaround: Astana (Kazakhstan)
Engineers: Jerry Johnson, Rasid Mahalbasic, Anton Ponomarev
Standings on April 6, 2015
Finish: 3-0
Astana engineered an unbelievable comeback two years ago. Trailing Kalev by three games following a loss to Tsmoki-Minsk, the Kazakh club’s playoff hopes hung by a thread.
Astana also had to overcome a challenging schedule and injuries to Nik Caner-Medley, Pat Calathes and Luksa Andric.
But the club would not be stopped, led by Jerry Johnson, Rasid Malahbasic and Anton Ponomarev. Down the stretch, Johnson averaged 19 points and eight rebounds, Mahalbasic–20 points and 10 rebounds, Ponomarev–14 points and eight rebounds.
Needing Kalev to lose its three remaining games, Astana took care of business by taking down Krasnye Krylia and VEF to set up a final test on the road against Zenit. Despite St. Petersburg’s far superior record, Astana was able to squeeze out a win in in the final seconds and shock the League.
Meanwhile, Kalev went 0-3, completing Astana’s miraculous turnaround (the Kazakhs enjoyed the tiebreaker thanks a superior head-to-head record).
Final Standings: 8th place (13-17), advanced to quarterfinals (lost to CSKA, 3-0).
***
As we can see, there’s no point giving up early on the playoff race. The League has been witness to several shocking comebacks (and collapses).
When it comes to Nizhny Novgorod and Avtodor this season, the stakes are high. Teams finishing in 7th and 8th place in the Russian standings could end up receiving invites to various European competitions (Champions League and Europe Cup). Every game is big.
