By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
On the last day of action in an exciting week full of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games, the curtain opens on five Friday games with an exciting clash between CSKA Moscow (14-5) and Anadolu Efes Istanbul (9-10)!
The reigning EuroLeague champions, under head coach Dimitris Itoudis, are clearly aiming for the top spot in the regular season and want to add one more win to their credit, while Velimir Perasovic‘s visiting team is fighting for a place in the top eight and the playoffs. In Moscow’s Megasport Arena, Kyle Hines of CSKA and Derrick Brown of Efes are going to be anchors in the frontcourt for their teams!
CSKA’s big man, born in 1986, is the pioneer of a group of undersized centers that has managed to change the kinds of demands coaches have for this position and to alter the playing characteristics that they typically look for.
Only 1.98 meters tall, Hines is in his seventh season in the EuroLeague (one year with Brose Bamberg, two with Olympiacos Piraeus and this year is his fourth season with CSKA).
Most importantly, he’s one of the just four active players – with Antonis Fotsis, Vassilis Spanoulis and Stratos Perperoglou – to have won the EuroLeague title three times. Hines did so in 2012 and 2013 with Olympiacos, and again in 2016 with CSKA. He has now played in five consecutive Final Fours! He was key player in all of those titles, filling the court with tremendous energy and a big heart. He finds ways through his speed and his explosiveness to convert his height disadvantage into an advantage against his opponents.
Hines was voted the EuroLeague’s best defender by the head coaches last season and, according to the survey of club general managers in each of the last two years, he is the EuroLeague’s toughest player! This year he averages 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and a performance index rating of 8.1, but his contribution and importance are not reflected in numbers. He has won domestic titles with every club he’s played in and with CSKA, aside from the EuroLeague title in 2016, he also has three consecutive VTB titles on his list of achievements.
Brown, born in 1987, is one of the most talented and impressive power forwards in the EuroLeague! He can impact the game in many ways, both on offense and on defense. He is fast and explosive, with a very good mid-range shot and a good perception of the game.
He’s in his third season in the EuroLeague. He made his first appearance with Lokomotiv Krasnodar (2014-15), with whom he won the EuroCup in 2013 and was named an All-Eurocup performer in 2013 and 2015. For the last two seasons he’s been playing in the colors of Efes. This year he averages 12.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals and a PIR of 17.1.
We’re expecting a spectacular game in Moscow with lots of quality between two teams with a lot of talent and big ambitions. Pay attention to Hines and Brown, but look up, as they are capable of giving us impressive plays in the skies!