By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The rules when it comes to the latter are quite simple. The VTB League champion is a “lock” for EuroLeague but if CSKA Moscow, a club with closed contract, wins the trophy then the runner-up gets a place to the top-tier European basketball competition.
Last year that team was Unics Kazan and it remains to be seen if the will at least make it to the Final this year, given that they finish at the fifth place and will, most likely, lack home-court in the entirety of the playoffs. Also they will face Lokomotiv Kuban another team carrying common goals, in the first round. Without a doubt THE hottest series out of the quarterfinals.
The other match-ups include CSKA Moscow – Astana, Zenit St. Petersburg – VEF Riga and Khimki Moscow – Enisey. Let’s take a closer look at them…
CSKA Moscow – Astana
Regular Season: CSKA Moscow 1st (22-2), Astana 8th (9-15)
As you probably can easily imagine, this one is a no-brainer. CSKA Moscow are not simply the superior team in the league and the defending champs but also the reigning European champions and the heavy favorite of winning the title this season as well. They will enter the series with determination to the max and their qualitative superiority over Astana will most likely speak for itself.
For Astana, the qualification to the playoffs is already rightfully a success on its own. Being competitive, or simply taking one victory against one of the best teams in Europe is the next target for the Kazakhs that have nothing to fear therefore they’ll perform without any pressure at all.
Prediction: CSKA in 3
Zenit St. Petersburg – VEF Riga
Regular season: Zenit St. Petersburg 2nd (21-3), VEF Riga 7th (11/13)
When the season began the goal for Zenit St. Petersburg was quite clear and had to do with getting to EuroLeague. There were two roads leading to the top-tier continental competition: Winning the Eurocup or at least advancing to the VTB League Finals. So after the elimination in the Eurocup quarterfinals, the path for the Russian squad is clear.
There’s VEF Riga standing between them and their target of course. Despite lacking the weapons that makes Zenit one of the most impressive offensive teams perhaps in the whole continent, Riga has been making the most of veteran Janis Blums’ presence (17.9 p.p.g.) to advance in the playoffs for the first time in history. It will be extremely difficult for the Latvians to counter the full force of Zenit in the quarterfinals but don’t be surprised if they win at least a match at home.
Prediction: Zenit in 4
Khimki Moscow – Enisey
Regular season: Khimki Moscow 3rd (19-5), Enisey 6th (13-11)
After missing the EuroCup semifinals, Khimki Moscow will rally behind VTB MVP contender Alexey Shved (22.2 points, 5.3 assists, 3.9 rebounds) with the same ambition as Zenit and basically all other teams not named CSKA: Getting at least to the Finals in order to enter next season’s EuroLeague. It will certainly not be easy for Dusko Ivanovic and co. against one of the toughest and athletic teams of the season in the league.
With double-double king Frank Elegar (13.4 points, 9 rebounds) spearheading its efforts on both ends, Enisey has been known for giving every team it faces a run for its money. Scrapping their guts out, coach Okulov’s players have been thriving in the usually high tempo of the VTB matches and they can show their steel vs Khimki in a match or two.
Prediction: Khimki in 4
Lokomotiv Kuban – Unics Kazan
Regular Season: Lokomotiv Kuban 4th (19-5), Unics Kazan 5th (15-9)
Rightfully considered as the most open to any result series, the clash between Lokomotiv Kuban and Unics Kazan will leave one VTB powerhouse out of the hunt for the title quite early. Unics Kazan has shown some notable ups and downs in the regular season, particularly during the second leg. The cost was the fall from second place to fifth, which gives them a disadvantage for the entirety of the postseason.
Still you can’t underestimate its abundant offensive talent channeled mainly through arch-scorer Keith Langford (18.7 points, 3.3 assists, 2.8 rebounds). But if there is one team that can feel more sure of its strengths against the all-out-war that Unics can bring on the floor then that’s Lokomotiv Kuban. Led by Kevin Jones (13.8 points, 6.8 rebounds) the Krasnodar squad is famous for “strangling” its opponents with jaw-breaking defense since it allows only 70 points per match. And that’s a quite the accomplishment in a lead with fast paced game and high-scoring offenses.
Prediction: Lokomotiv in 5