VTB United League regular season go continue on Sunday with two games, and the main attention dey on Krasnodar where Lokomotiv-Kuban go meet Zenit from St. Petersburg. Both teams dey tied for third place with same record: three wins and one loss, so the game get plenty weight for the standings.
Lokomotiv-Kuban dey come into the match after dem bounce back from their loss to CSKA and beat Avtodor well-well for house. Marcos Knight make im season debut for that game and immediately score twenty points. Im arrival land for correct time as the team dey prepare to face archrival Zenit.
Lokomotiv-Kuban dey rely heavy on offense, but dem go need break through Zenit aggressive defense. Zenit dey come with two straight wins. Their last match, like Lokomotiv-Kuban, na win over Avtodor, but dem play am some days earlier, so dem get more time to rest. Zenit leaders dey gradually find their form, and the trip to Krasnodar na chance to show am.
Lokomotiv-Kuban head coach Tomislav Tomovic talk say Zenit get top-class coach and well-rounded roster, with many quality players wey get plenty experience, including for VTB United League. Im say Zenit main characteristic na very aggressive play with emphasis on physical contact, and Lokomotiv-Kuban need respond correctly so dem no outplay dem physically. Im also point to rebound battle as another important part, saying whoever win rebounds go dictate how game flow go be.
Zenit head coach Duško Ivanović describe Lokomotiv as young and athletic team wey dey play modern basketball. Im say dem dey transition quickly from defense to offense and look like well-rounded squad. Ivanović talk say Zenit task na to stop those drives and play solid defense, and im call that the key to success. Im also say im side need pay closer attention to Lokomotiv-Kuban leaders Miller and Queen, and note experienced Marcos Knight. According to am, Lokomotiv-Kuban do great job on offensive rebounds and their big men know how to get open on perimeter.
The first game na 2:00 p.m. local time, wey still be 2:00 p.m. Moscow Time, for SK Basket Hall inside Krasnodar. Kinopoisk go broadcast am.
For the second game, Avtodor from Saratov go host MBA from Moscow for Kristall Sports Palace. Throw-in na 5:00 p.m. local time, 4:00 p.m. Moscow Time, and Kinopoisk still dey show am. Avtodor, wey Rostislav Vergun dey handle, don lose their last two road games and dem dey return home determined to win. But dem go play without captain Alexander Evseev for upcoming games because of injury.
