By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
What changed in Unics Kazan’s game after the change on its bench? Eurohoops summarizes the Euroleague games of the Russians under Pedoulakis and under Pashutin and highlights the role of Langford, Jerrells, Fisher and White in the last two wins.
Unics Kazan finished the first round of the Euroleague with 1-4 record and was on the verge of eliminating from the Top16. President Yegneny Bogachev decided to replace coach Argiris Pedoulakis with Evgeny Pashutin and the difference since the first day was huge. Not only in results, but also in the players who are the leaders of the team.
During the summer Unics invested in two of the best players in last season’s Euroleague, Keith Langford and Curtis Jerrells, who played great as a duo last season in Milan. Also, the Russians signed experienced small forward James White and forward/ center D’Or Fischer who spent five years in the Euroleague.
During the first five games of the season, the four American players scored in total 58% of their team’s points (224 of the 380). In that period Unics beat only Sassari (85-62) and had some great games vs Real Madrid and Zalgiris. During the last two weeks everything changed in the game plan. The four Americans have a more prominent role and led their team to two straight wins.
Against Efes 68% (46/67) of the points made, were scored by Jerrells, Langford, Fischer and White and vs Real Madrid the number exploded to the 85%(!) (73/85).
It remains to be seen if the Americans will continue like this in the last three games of the Euroleague and if Unics will keep winning.
Points of Unics’ Americans %
| First round | 224/380 | 58% |
| Efes | 46/67 | 68% |
| Real | 73/85 | 86% |