Zenit will face PARMA in Quarterfinals to 3 wins.
Time and place
Game #1. April 22, 19:30 (Moscow time), St. Petersburg, CSC Arena
Game #2. April 24, 19:30 (Moscow time), St. Petersburg, CSC Arena
Game #3. April 27, 17:00 (Moscow time), Perm, UDS Molot
Game #4. April 29, 17:00 (Moscow time), Perm, UDS Molot *.
Game №5. May 2, 16:00 (Moscow time), St. Petersburg, CSC Arena *.
* – if necessary
Regular Season
Zenit: 1st place (39 wins and 5 losses)
PARMA: 8th place (18 wins and 26 losses).
Season Rivlary
Zenit won all 4 season rivalry games. But only the first game was won by a clear advantage (100:56). In the other games, the Perm team was able to organize resistance. In general, Evgeny Pashutin team lost twice in Perm – 74:86 and 58:74.
But for the future Playoff series, the April game in St. Petersburg is more indicative. In that clach, PARMA seriously claimed to get win. The team led by 9 points in the third quarter – 62:53. But Alexey Shved performance let the hosts to get the initiative, Zenit took the win – 105:90.
Why can Zenit win?
Zenit’s winning streak is already 20 games. In the rivalry with PARMA, the St. Petersburg team may well extend it for a few more games. Xavier Pascual team is in great shape. At the end of the regular season, the team found balance, was able to integrate newcomers and correctly distributed roles among star players.
Zenit will have advantage in Quarterfinal series. There’s the home court advantage, a deeper roster, the level of performers, and even freshness (unlike the Perm team, who fought in the Play-In, the St. Petersburg team rested after April 12).
Why can PARMA win?
PARMA is one of the most unpredictable teams this season. The Perm team can fail in one game and then show fantastic basketball in the next. The Play-In games showed this very well. In the first round, Evgeny Pashutin team couldn’t do anything against Pari NN, and just 3 days later handled MBA-MAI.
That unpredictability could help the Perm team in the Playoffs. It’s hard to expect PARMA to beat Zenit without single loss. But if the Perm team manage to take one game, it could be the turning point of the entire series. PARMA has enough great players who can lead the team. If Royce Hamm, Garrett Nevels, Stanley Whittaker and Samson Ruzhentsev woill gladly take their chances.
X-Factor
The attitude factor will be key for both teams in this clash. The St. Petersburg team finished the regular season first and expects to advance to next round. If Zenit players go into the game thinking about an easy win over PARMA, the Playoffs could be over for them as early as the Quarterfinals.
Motivation will be even more important for the Perm team. Last season, PARMA roster looked pale in the Playoffs. One of the main reasons was leaders injuries. Now it’s important for the Perm team coaching staff to avoid those mistakes. In this regular seaon, the attitude of PARMA international players in some games was also questionable. But in the last clash with MBA-MAI they looked energized to fight. If Evgeny Pashutin manages to keep that attitude for the series with Zenit, his team will be quite capable of putting up a fight.
Facts
Rivalry history score: 21-3, Zenit leads. The St. Petersburg team won last 11 games.
Zenit have a current winning streak of 20 games. Only CSKA had more consecutive wins in the 2022/23 season (24 wins).
Zenit does not lose at home for 10 games, the last time the St. Petersburg team lost at home on January 11 against Lokomotiv-Kuban.
Zenit players have averaged 11.0 turnovers per game, the fewest in the regular season.
Zenit players took 3 MVP of the month awards (Xavier Moon, Trent Frazier and Dwayne Bacon). This is the best result of the season.
Stanislav Ilnitskiy is the only player to start the Playoffs with 46 games this season.
Royce Hamm is the regular-season leader in rebounds (8.3), double-doubles (15), playing time (30:53), and is third on the season in efficiency (19.8 points).
