By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
The defending Euroleague champs are the team to beat everywhere in Europe no matter in which competition they are playing. And Lokomotiv Kuban proved that they can be vulnerable.
This result outshined everything else that transpired in VTB League over the weekend. And how could it be otherwise since CSKA Moscow was previously the only undefeated team in league?
The MVP: Kevin Jones
Who else? The American big guy produced his best game of the season so far in what was the most difficult battle of Lokomotiv Kuban, leading his team to a triumph over CSKA Moscow. Jones won almost all battles he gave against his opponents inside the paint, dropping a season-high 21 points, dominated the boards by grabbing 15 rebounds (also a season-high) and held his ground more than successfully on the defensive end making the life of CSKA’s frontline guys as rough as it can get.
Best Five of the Week
- Rob Lowery (Astana): A season-high in PIR (30) which came as a result of the 25 points, 3 assists and 5 fouls won on his way to leading Astana in its fifth victory of the season, 84 – 67 vs Tsmoki Minsk. Lowery made the most out of almost every single of his attempts, shooting 5/5 two-pointers, 2/3 from beyond the arc and 9/9 from the free throw line.
- Alexey Shved (Khimki Moscow): What better way to celebrate monthly MVP honors by… showing exactly why you won the prize. After receiving his award for being VTB November MVP, Alexey Shved dropped 25 points on Avtodor Saratov, helping Khimki getting a comfortable win and improve its record to 6 – 1.
- Mardy Collins (Lokomotiv Kuban): The “all-around” machine of Lokomotiv Kuban made his job and then some in his team’s great victory over CSKA Moscow. Collins read the game exceptionally well, knowing when to take the shot attempt or let one of his teammates carry the deed and had his eyes wide-open on the defensive end to never lose sight of his targets. The American player finished the match with 15 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
- Kevin Jones (Lokomotiv Kuban): An MVP against the prototype Euroleague undersized center, Kyle Hines.
- Suleiman Braimoh (Enisey) :Total dominance. That’s a fitting way to describe the show Braimoh gave to lead Enisey’s 99 – 90 charge against Kalev Tallinn. Thanks to his 30 points (on a superb 11/13 two-point shots, plus 1/4 three-pointers) he reached a number of 35 (!) in the evaluation index as he trampled his opponents in any way imaginable. His performance elevated Enisey in the standings with the Russians now standing at a 4/5 record.
Coach of the Week Sasa Obradovic
The air of rejuvenation that he has been breathing to Lokomotiv Kuban since his arrival is unquestionable and against CSKA Moscow it became obvious in the most emphatic manner. This was without a doubt the biggest victory for the team of Krasnodar in the season so far and it bore the Serbian coach’s signature all over it.
Lokomotiv forced CSKA to an offensive imbalance, portrayed in the 30 shots from beyond the arc that the defending champs took, while making 31 attempts for 2-point shots. While Loko’s physical game tired its opponents, the team’s offense was well-planned enough to produce 84 points with 24 assists, which is quite the number.
The Last word: “It’s all Greek to me”
This might be the official motto among basketball affiliates in the city of Astana, Kazakhstan. With head coach Ilias Papatheodorou at the helm and fellow Hellenic newcomers Dimitris Katsivelis and Leonidas Kaselakis, Astana has gotten of to a sweet start of 5 victories/3 defeats having the fourth best record in the VTB League standings. The team’s latest win came quite easily, something which shows that maybe the best are yet to come and that the potential of the “new and improved” Astana is not tapped yet.
