The biggest news from the past seven days in the League.
Regular Season Wraps Up
Khimki clinched 3rd place with a dominant win over Enisey. Over the final weeks of the season, Lokomotiv-Kuban went 6-0 and even caught Moscow Region in the standings, but Khimki finished in front thanks to a superior head-to-head record. The quarterfinal matchups are now set, with Zenit and VEF opening the VTB United League playoffs on May 1 in St. Petersburg.
Here are your playoff teams: CSKA, Zenit, Khimki, Lokomotiv-Kuban, UNICS, Enisey, VEF and Astana.
Each round will feature best-of-five game series, beginning with the quarterfinals: CSKA (1) – Astana (8), Zenit (2) – VEF (7), Khimki (3) – Enisey (6) and Lokomotiv-Kuban (4) – UNICS (5).
Threat
With the win over Avtodor on Thursday, Zenit made it a club-record 14 in a row and clinched 2nd place in the standings. Given the context, head coach Vasily Karasev’s assertion that his team hadn’t even begun playing its best basketball cannot be comforting to the rest of the League.
“You think this is the peak? We’re only starting to peak!”
Zenit went on to make it 15 straight with a win over Kalev in the regular season’s final game.
Fan Club
Prior to playing Zenit in St. Petersburg, Avtodor forward Nick Minnerath found out that he has fans in the northern capital.
“I hadn’t heard about it, but it’s nice to know I’ve got my own fans in St. Petersburg that love watching me play,” said the American.
Race
Despite the loss in St. Petersburg, Minnerath put up 27 points and eight rebounds, giving him a big edge in the race for scoring champion. On Sunday, Khimki’s Alexey Shved only scored 19 points against Enisey, meaning Minnerath needed a measly 12 points at home against VEF to win the title.
He didn’t waste time, clinching the title by the 2nd quarter. The Avtodor fans showed their appreciation, chanting Minnerath’s name when he scored his 12th point.
Minnerath finished the season averaging 23.3 points per game, ahead of Shved (22.2 ppg) and Keith Langford (19.0 ppg).
Campaign
Enisey fans are worried about Arsenal FC. Supporters showed up to the game against Khimki with signs calling for Arsene Wenger to resign as manager of the London football club. They aren’t the only ones. Signs with #wengerout have been showing up around the world.
#бкенисей #этоновыйбаскетбол #wengerout
Нашит болельщики в теме не только баскетбола☝😎 pic.twitter.com/5KwAIdJxEu
— БК Енисей (@BC_Enisey) 19 апреля 2017 г.
Challenge
The mascots are gearing up for the playoffs. Zenit’s Lev accepted the push-up challenge, before passing the baton to CSKA’s Kon.
Dunk
Watch Avtodor guard Josh Adams execute a 360 dunk.
Talent
Lokomotiv center Kevin Jones performed the hit song Love Me, Love by Russian pop band Otpetye Moshenniki, even filming a music video with teammates Denis Zakharov and Matt Janning.
Jones agreed to perform the song in Russian as part of a fundraiser for a Krasnodar charity that provides medical help to needy children.
Stat
40 – Khimki’s margin of victory in Krasnoyarsk against Enisey. That’s a strong message to send ahead of the quarterfinal matchup between the two teams. But Enisey coach Oleg Okulov assured fans that the playoffs would be different.
Quote
With the 2016-17 season entering the final stretch, potential newcomers to the League are working hard on their bids for next season.
“We would add an additional stand to our arena, which currently holds 2,000 people. As a result, the capacity would increase by 600-800 seats. That’s less than the minimum 3,000, but I’m almost certain we would sell out every home game. Also, the Ice Palace in Samara will be rebuilt in time for the 2018 World Cup and can accommodate basketball games. That arena seats 6,000 fans, allowing us to play in a much bigger venue within a year. As for the budget, if we are accepted into the United League, it could increase to 180 million rubles. We’ll create a respectable roster and will be competitive, – Samara president Kamo Pogasyan is ready to put the Volga city back on the VTB United League map.
Stars
Nick Minnerath (Avtodor)
Avtodor was eliminated from the playoff race, but Minnerath didn’t quit, combining for 62 points in two games this week, giving him the scoring title over Alexey Shved.
Ryan Toolson (Zenit)
St. Petersburg traveled to Tallinn without Stefan Markovic, Sergey Karasev and Janis Timma. Toolson rose to the occasion, scoring 37 points, a new personal best in the League. Despite a scare from Kalev, Zenit was able to hang on and extend its winning streak.
Kevin Jones (Lokomotiv-Kuban)
17+6+4 against Parma, 16+12 against Tsmoki-Misk and Love Me, Love–Jones was busy this week.
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