The VTB United League All-Star Game is one month away. Fans and journalists have whittled down the list of candidates for the game in St. Petersburg and the official rosters will be revealed soon. But before that happens, Dmitry Gerchikov walks us through each of his picks for the second-annual VTB United League showcase.
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Let’s jump right in. I only had two conditions when creating my rosters: five backcourt and five frontcourt players and no more than two players from a single club on each team.
RUSSIAN TEAM
Backcourt
Alexey Shved (Khimki): There’s no discussion here. Shved is the leading scorer in the League (24.5 points per game) and EuroLeague (22.3 ppg). He’s got a knack for finishing games, the composure of a assassin and oozes with confidence. Shved is often criticized for weak defense and for hogging the ball as looks to make up for defensive deficiencies with heroics on the offensive end. But let’s get a couple things straight: Hero ball may be Khimki’s only realistic strategy right now with injuries mounting and the roster lacking depth. Second, Shved is allowed to do what he does best with the hope of extracting the maximum offensive efficiency from the Russian guard. When it comes to entertainment value, Shved may be the biggest star in St. Petersburg, with his electric, versatile skill likely to attract a lot of attention at the All-Star Game.
Dmitry Kulagin (Lokomotiv-Kuban): You won’t find him leading in any statistical categories. And he’s not playing big minutes in Krasnodar. But every minute that he’s on the court, he’s both smart and productive. Coming off the bench, he provides a steady hand on offense, at times helping return to the team’s system. After leaving CSKA, Kulagin spent some time looking for a new club as well as doing some soul-searching. Luckily, the partnership with Sasa Obradovic has him back on track as he’s displaying tremendous growth as a a player at Loko. Kulagin’s performance down the stretch vs. his former club showed everyone why he deserves a spot at the All-Star Game.
Evgeny Voronov (Zenit): Anyone who continues to view the Zenit captain exclusively as a defensive stopper should be sent to the island of love and forced to listen to Olga Buzova songs for an entire year. The veteran has steadily added to his arsenal and now he’s demonstrating incredible versatility. Voronov is good off the ball, stretching the defense with his three-point shooting. He’s a reliable sniper, capable of hitting from anywhere on the court. He’s productive on fast breaks, often serving as the trailer. If not for an injury at the beginning of the season, his value to Zenit would be easier to see in the statistics. With the way he’s playing right now, it’s going to be hard for anyone to ignore him soon.
Ivan Strebkov (Nizhny Novgorod): In the midst of a challenging season for his team, Strebkov has been rock solid. He does whatever the team needs him to do, whether that’s running the point (1st on the team in assists) or camping out on the wings beyond his usual comfort zone. His increased minutes and Zoran Lukic’s trust in him confirm that he’s doing everything right. That’s why he also deserves a ticket to St. Petersburg.
Anton Ponkrashov (UNICS): Anton Ponkrashov encapsulates all the qualities UNICS has become known for this season. The playmaker is careful with the ball (averaging 4.5 assists to one turnover). He’s not afraid of contact when Priftis uses his size to take advantage of a defensive switch. He works well in tandem with his American teammates who need touches, and still manages to put up nearly 10 points per game. That makes him an excellent All-Star pick and role model for other Russian players at his position.
Frontcourt
Sergey Karasev (Zenit): St. Petersburg’s scorer is yet another victim of backwards basketball stereotypes. People who don’t follow Zenit closely like to accuse Karasev of being overrated. They think he’s a little too fancy on offense, lazy on defense and argues too much with the refs… But let’s take a closer look at Karasev’s value. Night in, night out, he’s the catalyst for Zenit’s up-tempo approach, which doesn’t get enough of a boost from the guards (Laprovittola, for example, has seen his playing time decrease as a result). Whenever Zenit forces a turnover, Karasev is the one leading the charge in transition.The fact that he occasionally eases up on the gas is forgiveable. Considering that St. Petersburg is competing in multiple leagues, you have to catch your breath every once in a while… Either way, it’s no reason to diminish his many qualities, or worse, argue that he’s doesn’t deserve a spot at the All-Star Game.
Nikita Kurbanov (CSKA): He continues to be the most underrated player on CSKA’s roster and in the VTB United League. Kurbanov can play at three positions and is able to defend against almost anyone without fouling. He never looks rusty on the court, no matter how much playing time he receives. Finally, he’s relentless and brings a multitude of weapons to the table.
Andrey Vorontsevich (CSKA): Vorontsevich’s declining stats can be traced to a shift in philosophy at CSKA. The rotation has been kinder to CSKA’s international players, which, along with a greater reliance on wing play, has limited his opportunities to do what he does best. Nonetheless, the Sochi All-Star Game MVP can get buckets when the tempo is right and yank down rebounds. He’ll likely have more chances on the Russian national team and CSKA fans will be hit with a wave of nostalgia for the dominant Vorontsevich of old.
Andrey Zubkov (Khimki): I could be wrong, but the Yellow-Blue forward is one of the few players right now that both understands Georgios Bartzokas’s system and knows how to implement it. When he’s defending on the perimeter, nine times out of 10 he stays in front of his opponent on switches. Down low, he’s quick to provide help defense and crash the glass. Unfortunately, as a team, Khimki hasn’t been on the same page defensively since October and every new injury together with the mounting defeats makes it more and more difficult to restore chemistry. To keep Zubkov from losing hope entirely, we’ll include him in the back-up five for the Russian squad at the All-Star Game. Who knows, maybe he’ll give Bartzokas a reason to use him more often in the pick-and-roll.
Petr Gubanov (Nizhny Novgorod): Here’s another player who’s playing his best basketball under Zoran Lukic. Stats can’t completely capture his value on the court. He may not be the most versatile or athletic center in the VTB League, but he does all the little things that help a team win, or at least keep it close against a quality opponent. He pulls down rebounds and protects teammates with bruising screens. And Gubanov is very good at defending the paint without fouling.
WORLD TEAM
Backcourt
Nando De Colo (CSKA): The Frenchman has one of the toughest jobs at CSKA. He’s been asked to do twice the work on offense while Rodriguez learns CSKA’s system. And he’s relied upon to overcome inconsistent performances from the club’s wing players, who can be guilty of trying to do too much and bogging down the offense. When De Colo himself begins to falter, the entire system comes crashing down. That’s how much he means to the defending champions. For that reason alone, De Colo is a worthy candidate to play in the All-Star Game.
Quino Colom (UNICS): For years, Colom had the reputation of a quality, if not particularly dynamic, point guard. But so far this season he’s been on another level. Liberated from the pick-and-roll, Colom is demonstrating his value as a playmaker and deadly sniper. He can switch up the tempo on offense, slice through any defense and extend the court for his teammates with his vision. He’s also supremely confident, bouncing back quickly from any mistake. It seems like Colom has finally been set free under Priftis, and allowed to do what he does best without worrying about his coach’s reaction. It would be a pity to put Colom on pause even for a weekend, which is why he should be included on the team in St. Petersburg.
Justin Robinson (Avtodor): He’s no Courtney Fortson, both in terms of size or impact, or versatility. But it’s been a long time since Saratov had a player that affected the game in so many ways. The high-intensity guard has adapted beautifully to both Andrea Mazzon’s dynamic small-ball and Evgeny Pashutin’s more traditional approach. He’s also piling up the stats and the player everyone turns to in close games for good reason.
Codi Miller-McIntyre (PARMA): He’s allowed to do almost anything he wants on offense in Perm. You might say he’s a poor man’s Alexey Shved: With a similar number of possessions and shot attempts, Miller-McIntyre is one of the most dynamic players in the League. the PARMA star is averaging 16 points and eight assists per game, and improving game-to-game on his playmaking when double-teamed. For all of his fireworks, he’s also one of the hardest-working and patient players on the court, and that’s the key to his success.
Isaiah Briscoe (Kalev): Plenty of teams made mistakes in the offseason, bringing in untested Americans who floundered in the European game. But that has not been the case for Kalev and Kentucky star Isaiah Briscoe. Fresh from college and the Summer League, the 21-year-old guard has played a major role in Kalev’s resurgence. Playing alongside a high-flying lineup, he only needed a few weeks to become the team’s number-one option on offense. Under Donaldas Kairys, he’s also become more disciplined. Over the winter, Briscoe is an excellent and explosive alternative to the more methodical guard-center combo of veterans Mirkovic and Simmons. Each time he touches the ball, he’s helping Kalev inch a little closer to the postseason. In addition to beating sub-.500 competition, Tallinn recently got the upset vs. EuroLeague club Khimki.
Frontcourt
Mardy Collins (Lokomotiv-Kuban): With the way he’s been playing in recent months, Collins wouldn’t miss a beat in the NBA. He’s stockpiled highlights in December and January. There was the electric performance against Zenit where he helped squash a late comeback. Collins made life miserable for Tsmoki-Minsk, then flirted with a triple-double in the win over CSKA… He makes it look easy, though, transforming basic basketball moves into an art form. It’s not genius, but rather experience compounded with an understanding of the game and a willingness to put the work in every day. He’s a role model for young players and one of the best additions to the League in recent years. It wouldn’t be right if Collins was not on the roster in St. Petersburg.
Stephane Lasme (UNICS): The Gabonian big man has an answer for anyone who thinks he doesn’t deserve an All-Star appearance. Kazan employs a creative, multi-pronged offense with one of the deepest rosters in the VTB United League. Priftis has plenty of slashers at his disposal, who can drive from the top of the key or the perimeter. But the team’s leading scorer is the 203-cm veteran, who is heavily dependent on the pass. Yes, some of his points come on second-chance opportunities. But that only makes him look better. Considering Kazan’s outstanding field-goal percentage, the big men have few opportunities for putbacks. Stephane, though is able to rank among the League leaders in points and rebounds…
Suleiman Braimoh (Enisey): It’s easy to be a double-double machine when you’re a true center on a team without many stars, and live on the pick-and-roll. That was true of Frank Elegar last season in Enisey. It’s easy to look young and fresh at 35, when your teammates are exquisite passers and set you up for easy baskets, like Stephane Lasme in Kazan. So what do we make of Suleiman Braimoh, a combo forward who’s been without a regular playmaker most of the season due to injuries? Averaging 13 points and six rebounds considering the circumstances is a phenomenal achievement. It seems like Braimoh is under-appreciated around the League and an invite to the All-Star Game would be a nice reward for his performance this season.
Drew Gordon (Zenit): With every hook shot from the American, his chances of making the All-Star Game have steadily improved. Though he’s not physically imposing, Gordon has been able to push around bigger, stronger opponents under the rim who underestimate him. He can also step out to the perimeter and knock down the 3. He may not be quite as dominant on defense, but that’s nothing new in St. Petersburg. Zenit’s big men have typically had a few flaws. Gordon, though, more than compensates for the deficiencies by giving 100% every minute he’s on the court.
Kyle Hines (CSKA): EuroLeague GM’s know their stuff. If they say that the CSKA center is the best defensive big man in the League, then it must be true. Despite his modest 198-cm height, Hines takes advantage of less coordinated opponents who don’t know how to use their size properly. He’s also a terrific free-throw shooter, knocks down the mid-range jumper and never gives up on a play or a game, even when everyone else is ready to quit. He’s such an obvious choice, he could probably collect the 100,000 signatures needed to run for president faster than Ksenia Sobchak.
