Looking back at the biggest news around the League this week.
Spotlight
Lokomotiv-Kuban dealt CSKA its first loss of the regular season. Both teams entered Sunday with winning streaks (Loko – 5, CSKA – 7) and put on an exciting, gripping game in front of a big Krasnodar crowd.
With CSKA’s loss, there are no more undefeated teams in the League. The Red-Blues drop into a tie with UNICS (7-1), while Khimki and Zenit are only half a game behind (6-1).
Return
Sergey Bykov is too good to retire quite yet. Russia’s national team captain during EuroBasket qualifying this summer is joining Avtodor. The charismatic guard and down-on-its-luck club are a perfect fit.
“Avtodor was missing a tough guy like him, a true warrior, who can lead his teammates. Bykov’s incredible inner chemistry and charisma will really help our team,” – says Avtodor president Vladimir Rodionov.
Streak
Astana is picking up momentum. The club has won three in a row in the League for the 5th time in its history. Tsmoki-Minsk was the victim this week and Ilias Papatheodorou’s men will try to make it four straight for the first time against Lokomotiv.
MVP
Khimki guard Alexey Shved was named November’s MVP.
Shved played four games in November, averaging 19 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.7 rebounds. Khimki was undefeated during that stretch.
Other contenders for the award were Loko’s Mardy Collins and CSKA’s Vitaly Fridzon.
Collection
Run
Neighbors in the standings and in search of a playoff spot, Enisey and Kalev met in Krasnoyarsk. The game stayed close until midway through the 4th quarter, when Enisey leader Tony Taylor got hot, scoring eight straight points. The Siberians ended up matching their scoring record this season (99) in a big win at home.
Superior Performance
Featuring several new additions, Avtodor hoped to outrun Khimki on the road and snap a five-game losing streak. Instead, Saratov proved unable to slow down Khimki’s offense from the opening tip. After quickly building a commanding lead, Khimki kept its foot on the gas, wowing the fans with multiple highlight-reel plays.
Versatility
Closer to the Stars
The League’s All-Star Game is getting closer. Tickets to one of the biggest events of the season went on sale recently. The game will be held on February 11, 2017 in Sochi.
You can buy tickets online here.
Viral
Following in Nizhny Novgorod’s footsteps, Kazan’s cheerleading squad took part in the Mannequin Challenge, giving fans a glimpse inside the locker room.
Migration
The VTB United League’s 2016 Young Player of the Year, Artem Klimenko, is joining UNICS on loan for the rest of the season. He’s averaging 6.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in six games. He’ll try to improve those numbers in Kazan.
There was one other move involving two teams in the League: Tomislav Zubcic left Avtodor to play in Nizhny Novgorod.
“It was important to me to continue playing in the VTB United League. I want to adapt to the team as quickly as possible and start working at full strength,” – said Zubcic.
Addition
The League’s foreign clubs are also working to get better. Kalev brought in two new players this week. While 17-year-old Matthias Tass isn’t a househould name, Cedric Simmons, the 15th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, has experience with New Orleans, Cleveland, and Chicago, as well as some top European clubs, Olympiacos and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Dunk
Stat
25 – VEF’s bench outscored Parma’s bench by 25, which proved a big factor in Riga’s win.
Quote
Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Sasa Obradovic:
– I want to thank the fans who came to the Basket Hall today for the game against CSKA. It was good marketing for basketball. After a game like this, more people will become interested in basketball and come and support us.
Stars
Kevin Jones (Lokomotiv-Kuban).
Against CSKA, Jones played one of the best games of his life–21 points and 15 rebounds–helping Krasnodar end Moscow’s unbeaten run.
Suleiman Braimoh (Enisey).
Kalev didn’t have time to get a visa for Simmons. Braimoh took advantage of Kalev’s lack of size and power in the paint, putting up 30 points on 11-13 shooting inside the arc to go with six rebounds and two blocks.
Rob Lowery (Astana).
Scoring 25 points on 7-8 shooting and 9-9 from the line, Lowery gave Astana another win and improved his shot at winning the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Viacheslav Zaitcev (Khimki).
“Slava deserved a triple-double,” – E.J. Rowland said after the game with Avtodor. 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and a string of dunks: on Saturday evening, Zaitcev was the star on a Khimki team that is firing on all cylinders.
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