Looking back on the action in the VTB United League.
Spotlight
The League’s top two teams staged a rematch of the 2016 playoff finals in Kazan. Despite a gutsy effort, including a late comeback, UNICS could not solve CSKA. That’s two losses in a row for Evgeny Pashutin’s club, which drops into 3rd place. CSKA, on the other hand, now has a 1.5 game lead in 1st.
Teamwork
Achievement
The League’s hottest team stretched its winning streak to 10 games. Kalev was the latest victim, trailing Lokomotiv from start to finish. Krasnodar’s record for consecutive wins is 12, set last season. The team’s next test is a road game in Krasnoyarsk against a very solid Enisey team.
Battle
After starting the season 3-8, Avtodor could not afford another loss, especially at home against Enisey, who entered the game in 8th place.
Both teams went at it, competing with playoff-level intensity. Trailing much of the game, Avtodor was able to mount a comeback, limiting Enisey to two points in the final four and a half minutes. Saratov escapes with the victory, pulling within a half game of Krasnoyarsk for the final playoff spot.
Crossover
Passing Maneuver
Another Volga club, Nizhny Novgorod, also struggled to start the season. 2-8 entering the weekend, Arturs Stalbergs’s men picked up a vital win against Tsmoki-Minsk, which allowed them to leapfrog the Belarusians into 10th place, one game back of 8th-place Enisey.
Getting Ready
Preparations for the 1st-ever All-Star Game are in full swing.
Sochi’s Bolshoi Arena tested the basketball court last week in order to see how it would react to the layer of ice underneath. Everything looked good with the big game less than a month away.
Meanwhile, media voting for the Russia and World teams is in full swing.
Premiere
In the biggest non-basketball news of the week, popular TV personality and showman Ivan Urgant has agreed to host the All-Star Game.
He’s already started cracking jokes: “I’m the right person to host the first VTB United League All-Star Game. On the one hand, I’m a bank client. On the other, I love basketball. As for the third–yes, I have three–I’m tall, which makes me a better fit than all the other emcees. Sure, I can’t jump. Sure, my arms are short and I’m short-sighted, but I really love basketball. And I’m going to try my best to dunk at the All-Star Game with a trampoline.”
Outclassed
Two Yellow-Blue teams, Khimki and Astana, entered Sunday’s game in 5th and 6th place, respectively. Astana could have pulled within a game of Moscow Region with a win, but Khimki never let the visitors threaten, cruising to a 17-point win. The Kazakh club drops to 7th with the loss behind VEF.
Steal
Hope
UNICS guard Anton Ponkrashov tweeted that he hopes for a quick recovery and would love for an opportunity to play in the All-Star Game.
Ponkrashov has been out since October with a knee injury, but asked the League’s general director Ilona Korstin to include him on the candidate list for the All-Star Game. He got the answer he was looking for.
Return
Taylor Rochestie played for the first time in more than two months. Loko did quite well in his absence, but Rochestie didn’t waste time making an impact, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists vs. Kalev.
Transformation
Zenit traveled to Perm to play the League’s newest team, Parma. The Siberian club put up a fight in the first half, trailing by only six points, but a dominant showing from Zenit in the 3rd quarter (34-13) emphatically decided the outcome.
Wish
Zenit forward Evgeny Valiev talked about what motivates him and an important request from his wife: “When I leave the house for a game, my wife usually says a few words to help me focus. Recently, she’s been asking me to foul less. And she’s not the only one.”
Award
Milos Teodosic was named the European Player of the Year by Gazzetta Dello Sport. The Italian publication has polled journalists, general managers, coaches and players for 38 years to decide on who should receive the honor. The CSKA and Serbian national team guard is the first non-NBA player to win the award since Gregor Fucka in 2000.
Teodosic won the Euroleague and VTB United League with CSKA, while earning a silver medal at the Olympics with Serbia. 2nd place went to CSKA teammate Nando De Colo, while 3rd went to Spurs center Pau Gasol.
Union
Nizhny Novgorod guard Ivan Strebkov is averaging 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game this season, making him a top contender for Most Improved Player.
This week, he signed a two-year extension with Nizhny Novgorod.
“I’m absolutely confident that Nizhny Novgorod will enjoy success in the very near future,” – noted Strebkov.
Debut
Guard Josh Adams finally got on the court for Avtodor.
The 23-year-old American signed with Saratov during the offseason, but suffered a bad neck injury after getting in an accident on August 13. He had to have an operation, then go through five months of rehab.
Saratov has high hopes for the former NCAA star.
“This is a very serious addition. Based on how he looked when he signed the contract, he’s got enormous potential. We hope that Josh is fully recovered and can make a big impact. Over the decisive part of the season, we hope to significantly improve our play and position in the standings with his help,” – Avtodor president Vladimir Rodionov.
Against Enisey, Adams started the game and played 22 minutes. He didn’t look very sharp (one point, four assists, five turnovers), but the team did pick up a very important win.
Teacher
Parma signed a contract with 33-year-old Slovenian national team forward Sasa Zagorac.
“Our players need a teacher. And Sasa Zagorac could become that person for the team. He’s an experienced player and has played at many European clubs,” – Parma head coach Viacheslav Shushakov.
Club management also promised to continue working to strengthen the roster.
Stat
105 – CSKA matched its season high for points on the road against 2nd-place UNICS, one of the League’s top title contenders.
Quote
Khimki head coach Dusko Ivanovic:
– When we turned our heads on, we didn’t have any problems. We started the game with good energy, but didn’t play smart in the 2nd quarter. We turned our heads on, and everything was good.
Stars
Nando De Colo (CSKA)
The Frenchman is getting back to elite status after his injury. On Monday, De Colo made up for Teodosic’s absence with 17 points and 11 assists, helping CSKA display impressive efficiency on offense in the Game of the Week.
Nick Minnerath (Avtodor)
25 points and 10 rebounds from Minnerath helped Saratov survive a tough game vs. Enisey.
DeAndre Kane (Nizhny Novgorod)
After a mini-slump, Kane is back to playing at an MVP level. 22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and a 35 efficiency rating: That was the best mark by a player on a winning team this week.
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