UNICS will face CSKA in the Finals up to 4 wins.
Series Schedule
Game 1. May 26, 19:30 (Moscow time), Kazan, Basket Hall
Game 2. May 28, 19:30 (Moscow time), Kazan, Basket Hall
Game 3. May 31, 20:00 (Moscow time), Moscow, Megasport.
Game 4. June 2, 14:00 (Moscow time), Moscow, Megasport
Game 5. June 5, 19:30 (Moscow time), Kazan, Basket Hall*
Game 6. June 8, 14:00 (Moscow time), Moscow, Megasport*
Game 7. June 11, 19:30 (Moscow time), Kazan, Basket Hall*.
*- if necessary.
Regular Season
UNICS: 1st place (26 wins – 10 losses)
CSKA: 3rd place (25 wins – 11 losses)
Rivalry
The first game between the rivals took place in November. The Moscow team came to Kazan with 10 wins in 11 games and was able to take the lead. UNICS scored only 66 points, lost rebounds and failed to put up a fight in the end – 66:79.
The next game happened 2.5 months later. During that time, UNICS gained shape and moved closer to the Moscow team in the standings. The first half of the game was equal. After the halftime, Dmitriy Kulagin brought a radical change to the game. The guard made 6 three-pointers, which allowed the Kazan team to pull away and take the win.
In March, Velimir Perasovic team returned to Moscow. CSKA had lost Casper Ware due to injury, but despite that the team led for 30 minutes. But Nenad Dimitrijevic scored 18 points in last 10 minutes and helped UNICS take the season series lead. The Kazan team leader then scored 38 points and set new career high.
The final game between the rivals in the regular season took place in Kazan. This time, the reigning champion took the lead at the start of the second quarter and had it the lead until the end. CSKA struggled with long-range shooting throughout the game. Dimitrijevic again showed great performance, this time scoring 40 points (including 7 of 9 long-range shots).
Why UNICS can win
UNICS roster is stacked with players who are not only capable of consistently scoring 10+ points, but also of taking first roles. In addition to Dimitrijevic, the team was led by Jalen Reynolds, Marcos Knight, and Erick Green. The variation in offense could be a problem for CSKA defense.
UNICS also ranks near the bottom of the League in three-point attempts, but is in the Top 2 in average field goal shooting. The team success is less dependent mostly on majority of options. For CSKA, this style of play can be extremely frustrating – in the series with Zenit, the Moscow team was able to create difficulties with long-range shots, but in Games 2 and 4 failed to cope with problems in the paint.
Another strength of the Kazan team is the presence of several mobile bigmen in the lineup – Reynolds, Louis Labeyrie and Mikhail Belenitskii. UNICS’ frontcourt has more speed, so it will be harder for the Moscow team to open up the defense with pick-and-rolls, as the team did in the Semifinals.
Nenad Dimitrijevic will also play an important role in the Final Series, as he has improved his play in the Playoffs. The guard has clearly shown that he knows how to play against CSKA defense – 40 and 38 points in the last 2 games between the principal rivals.
Why CSKA can win
The Army team has been inproving offense throughout the Playoffs. CSKA leads the League in long-range shooting, and is also in the Top 2 in assists per game. The Moscow team is capable of finding an approach to any defense, as the team has Tonye Jekiri and Livio Jean-Charles. In absence of Ismael Bako, this feature could become a key factor.
Casper Ware and Nikita Kurbanov has picked up shape since returning and were able to stop Sergey Karasev and Thomas Heurtel in the deciding games versus Zenit. Now they will try to do it again with the leaders of the Kazan team.
The Moscow team has better physical condition, as the team had 6 days off after the Semifinals with Zenit, while UNICS had only 3 days off. CSKA coaching staff knows how to use the extra time wisely – before the series with St. Petersburg, CSKA also stayed out of the game longer and confidently took the first road game.
X-factor
Both teams had huge wins and losses during the Semifinals, so stability and rotation quality will be one of the key factors of success in the Final Series. The leaders of both teams Nenad Dimitrijevic and Amath M’Baye showed high level. But both UNICS and CSKA rotation players were not good enough in the games they lost. The Kazan team success will largely depend on Erick Green and Jalen Reynolds coming off the bench, while the Moscow team players Anton Astapkovich and Tonye Jekiri will have a lot of responsibility.
