Get the breakdown on this week’s action.
Thursday, February 23
VEF (Latvia) – Nizhny Novgorod (Russia)
Time: 7:30 PM (8:30 MSK)
Place: Olimpic Sport Center, Riga, Latvia
TV: VTB-League.com
VEF: Riga hasn’t played in the League since February 5, a big contrast to Nizhny Novgorod, which played three times in the last 10 days. VEF remains in 6th place, 2.5 games back of 5th-place UNICS and 0.5 games up on 7th-place Enisey. On Thursday, VEF’s strategy will likely be to slow the game down, apply bruising physical defense and dominate the glass. Given that Nizhny is the League’s worst rebounding team, the final objective is very attainable.
Nizhny Novgorod: VEF has only played 14 games, compared to 17 for Nizhny Novgorod. With a meager 7 games remaining on the schedule, Arturs Stalbergs’ club desperately needs a win. On February 19, the Volga club took Zenit down to the wire, only a few days removed from St. Petersburg’s statement win against CSKA. Nonetheless, Nizhny couldn’t secure the upset, dropping to 5-12 on the season. It doesn’t get any easier in Riga. Nizhny is 1-9 on the road this season and lost to VEF at home in January.
Friday, February 24
Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia) – Khimki (Russia)
Time: 4:00 PM (4:00 MSK)
Place: Basket Hall, Krasnodar, Russia
TV: Match TV, VTB-League.com
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Kuban could not get past the number 13, dropping a hard-fought game in Moscow to the reigning champs, which snapped a club-record 13-game winning streak. Only half a game separates 2nd-place Zenit (14-3) and Loko (13-3) and Khimki (13-3). Each of these teams could still catch CSKA (15-2), but a loss on Friday for either Loko or Khimki would seriously damage those hopes.
Khimki is one of three teams to defeat Loko this season, 73-65 at home in mid-October. The Railwaymen didn’t lose again until Sunday. The biggest question entering Friday’s rematch is whether or not Loko’s League-best defense can shut down a red-hot Alexey Shved and imposing Khimki frontcourt.
Khimki: The playoffs are getting closer and closer and Moscow Region is beginning to peak at the right time. 104 points vs. VEF, 118 vs. Avtodor and 98 in a comprehensive victory over UNICS. In the win against Kazan, Khimki’s bench was terrific, while Marko Todorovic and Sergey Monia backed up a 30-point showing from Alexey Shved. Dusko Ivanovic praised his team’s cohesion on defense and pressure. Will Moscow Region be able to maintain those energy levels for a second consecutive game?
Saturday, February 25
Zenit (Russia) – Enisey (Russia)
Time: 1:00 PM (1:00 MSK)
Place: SC Yubileyniy, St. Petersburg, Russia
TV: VTB-League.com
Zenit: The win over CSKA marked a turning point for Zenit, announcing to the League that St. Petersburg was ready to compete for a regular-season title. The Blue-White-Sky Blues got a scare in the very next game, but with the win in Nizhny Novgorod, Zenit has now won eight in a row, moving into 2nd place, ahead of Loko, Khimki and UNICS. Playing against Enisey, St. Petersburg will try to keep the pressure on 1st-place CSKA.
Enisey: The Siberians have continued to impress, moving to 8-9 thanks to a three-game winning streak. Krasnoyarsk also advanced to the FIBA Europe Cup quarterfinals this week. That could play a role in the game with Zenit. After an exhausting road trip to Turkey, exacerbated by double overtime, Enisey has only two days to prepare for Zenit.
Avtodor (Russia) – Astana (Kazakhstan)
Time: 5:00 PM (4:00 MSK)
Place: Kristall Sports Palace, Saratov, Russia
TV: VTB-League.com
Avtodor: After making a little charge, Saratov has lost two in a row, dropping 1.5 games back of Astana for the final playoff spot. Now 8th and 9th place meet on Avtodor’s home court, the perfect opportunity for Vladimir Antsiferov’s men to get back in the chase. Four of the team’s five wins have come at home, while Astana has struggled to win on the road this season.
Saratov was also eliminated from the Champions League earlier this week. Despite the disappointment, the team can now focus 100% on the VTB United League, beginning with Saturday’s must-win encounter.
Astana: The Kazakhs snapped a five-game skid, defeating Tsmoki in Minsk. The game in Saratov could be a moment of truth for Astana. A win would give the visitors a hefty lead in the race for the final playoff spot, while a loss would get Avtodor within half a game.
Ilias Papatheodorou will be most concerned with slowing down Avtodor’s attack. Saratov scores 86.3 points per game vs. 74.2 per game for Astana. At home, meanwhile, Saratov puts up an incredible 91.7 per game. Astana, on the other hand, averages less than 70 on the road.
Sunday, February 26
CSKA (Russia) – UNICS (Russia)
Time: 4:00 PM (4:00 MSK)
Place: USH CSKA, Moscow, Russia
TV: Match! Nash Sport, VTB-League.com
CSKA: After losing to Zenit, CSKA bounced back with a much-needed win against a talented Loko club. Sunday brings another test. UNICS has been struggling, but the team’s talent makes it dangerous against any opponent. Both teams feature elite backcourts, though defense may be the key. Kazan’s traditionally stalwart defense collapsed in the first meeting between these teams, giving up 105 points, but will be out for revenge.
UNICS: Both teams will be fatigued. CSKA plays Maccabi on Thursday in the Euroleague, while Kazan takes on Panathinaikos on Friday. CSKA’s extra day of rest could be huge. UNICS continues to struggle with injuries and lack of depth. Kazan had to go 8-on-10 against Khimki (Artem Klimenko only played a few minutes), something CSKA’s deep bench will be more than happy to exploit by pushing the tempo.
Monday, February 27
Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus) – VEF (Latvia)
Time: 7:00 PM (7:00 MSK)
Place: Falcon Club, Minsk, Belarus
TV: VTB-League.com
Tsmoki-Minsk: The Dragons lost at home on Sunday, falling to Astana in a game the Belarusians needed to win. Stuck in 11th place, Minsk is looking for a spark to reignite its fading playoff hopes. 2-7 all-time against VEF, Igor Grishchuk’s men will need to improve on its League-worst scoring average. The club also lost starting center Djordje Gagic to Istanbul earlier this week, a major blow to the frontcourt.
VEF: Riga also struggles to score, averaging only 76.9 points per game. Other elements could decide the outcome. For example, VEF averages two more offensive rebounds per game, which could prove even more significant with Gagic’s departure. Given these teams should be fairly evenly matched in Minsk, an offensive rebound here or there could give Riga some decisive second-chance points.
