By Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohoops.net
The season already started in VTB United league, this week most of the teams will have their openers and Eurohoops presents those which are going to have a dominant role in the league. There are three teams contending for the title – CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Kuban, Unics Kazan – two teams more which have at least semifinal hopes – Khimki, Nizhny Novgorod – and those who will try to be competitive in the league, targeting the playoffs.
The battle of the title
CSKA Moscow: CSKA is the permanent champion of the tournament and once more the big favorite to win the title. It has a new coach, Dimitris Itoudis, with different philosophy, but the same core. The performance and maturity of Milos Teodosic in crucial games is going to be the key for a successful season. In addition to, the quick assimilation of Itoudis’ philosophy and the clear targets on the court are also very important.
Lokomotiv Kuban: Lokomotiv impressed with its summer signings and looks ready to challenge CSKA Moscow. After all, last season they beat the champions twice but finally they didn’t manage to qualify for the finals. Malcolm Delaney is the new superstar of Kuban and undoubtedly the guy for the crucial decisions in the game.
Uniks Kazan: Unics has also a new coach and a lot of changes to its roster. It has also the quality to be a threat for CSKA Moscow. Argiris Pedoulakis added to his roster the “hot” duo of EA7 Milano, Keith Langford and Curtis Jerrells, who create – with Nikos Zisis and Sergey Bykov – a great quartet of guards. There are a lot of good players in they roster, many new signigns and that makes chemistry and clear roles on the court more than important.
The dream of Euroleague
Khimki: It was one of the best teams of the league the last decade. It added the Euroleague’s final four MVP, Tyrese Rice, to its roster! It has high aspirations as every year, but on paper it’s not among the best three teams of the league. Of course they want to return to Euroleague next season and they need to work really hard for this.
Nizhny Novgorod: It was the surprise last season playing in the finals of the league and getting a ticket to Euroleague. The question mark is if it has the depth in its roster to be competitive in both leagues. It is a young and talented team, which will be more experienced and ambitioned after its debut in Euroleague. Of course the big target of the season is to remain among the best European teams.
The third group of the league
Nymburk: After its domination in Czech Republic, Nymburk is looking for new challenges in VTB and Eurocup. It wants to be competitive and reach as high as it is possible. It lost Dylan Page and Rasid Mahalbasic, two key players, but this summer it added Darius Washington, who had a great season in Turkey and he is expected to be its leader.
Zenit St Petersburg: Zenit, until recently known as Triumph, changed its name after moving to the second largest city of Russia, Saint Petersburg. As a result, it moved to Sibur Arena (7100 seats), which hosted Spartak St. Petersburg’s games during the last seasons. Walter Hodge is the new superstar of Vasily Karasev’s team and the key player for the new season.
VEF Riga: It aims to the playoffs and every victory after the quarter final will be a step further. Riga is a team based in Latvian talent and only three foreign players in its roster. Two experienced players, Kenan Bajramovic and Tomas Delinikaitis, are not any more in its roster and Riga is searching for its new leaders.
“Krasny Oktyabr Volgograd”: It’s a team with just two years (!) of history. However, it is very ambitious and determined for making leaps of progress. They got a “wild card” for the upcoming Eurocup and this is one more reason for being competitive. Krasny Oktyabr Volgograd has five Americans in its roster and the end result on the court should be interesting.