UNICS — CSKA, 26 May 2024

MVP factor

The club from the capital of Tatarstan is not just a regular season champion. This is also statistically the most inconvenient opponent of the Muscovites this season, the only team with a positive balance of victories and defeats in the confrontation with CSKA (3-1). Moreover, the only success of the red-blues dates back to November last year, when the brilliant play of the “big men” allowed them to confidently take their toll on the road.

In the fight against UNICS, the CSKA's kryptonite is the play of Nenad Dimitrijevic, the reigning MVP of the playoffs (last season) and the (current) regular season. The Macedonian guard improved from game to game and in the second round of the regular season had two simply fantastic performances. In March in Moscow, he scored 38 points with 48 PIR, and in April in Kazan he surpassed himself with the corresponding numbers of 40 and 52. In general, in four meetings with the red-blues, his average points and PIR are exorbitant 27.8 and 37.5.

In this playoffs, Neno is currently averaging 16.9 points with 4.0 rebounds and 8.2 assists. The league's statistical leaders list also include Jalen Reynolds (14.2 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Louis Labeyrie (9.4 points, 6.3 rebounds).

The main personnel problem for UNICS in the semi-finals was a calf muscle injury, which the main “big” of the team, Ismael Bako, received in the third game against Loko. The player, who started 41 out of 46 games for the Greens this season (7.6 points, 5.7 rebounds), missed the end of the series and his participation in the final remains in question.

Again: rhythm or rest?

As before the semifinals, CSKA finished the previous series earlier than its opponent. Though this time not for a week, but only for three days. Globally, this allowed us to spend a little more time on recovery. Locally, the preparation is not particularly different: after all, the team only recently learned about the rival.

The red-and-blue team practiced in Krylatskoye, from where they went to Sheremetyevo on Saturday. There were some losses - Samson Ruzhentsev, who was ill, did not fly to Kazan.

“This is players’ time, our goal is to tell them during preparation little details that are important in those type of games,” CSKA head coach Andreas Pistiolis said. “They have to hustle and fight. In my philosophy we don’t face any single player, we face a team that reached the finals with a number of good players and great personalities. We are absolutely prepared, I expect to see our players in even better shape because I always demand improvement, I demand more than I’ve seen on the court because I know what our guys are capable of.”

Past matchups

Wins-losses: 86-27

CSKA biggest margin of victory: 102-54 (+48) (1997-98 Russian Championship. Quarterfinal)
UNICS biggest margin of victory: 113-77 (-36) (2000-01 Russian Superleague. Regular season. 2nd stage)

Games of 2023-24 VTB League Season:

23-Nov-2023. 1st stage. UNICS – CSKA: 66-79 (+13)
04-Feb-2023. 1st stage. CSKA – UNICS: 73-83 (-10)
05-Mar-2024. 2nd stage. CSKA – UNICS: 78-84 (-6)
13-Apr-2024. 2nd stage. UNICS – CSKA: 88-78 (-10)

Brief dossier

UNICS Kazan

Founded: 1991
Color: green, black, white
Home court: Basket Hall (7,500)
President: Evgeny Bogachev
Head coach: Velimir Perasovic
Website: www.unics.ru
Trophy case:
- EuroCup winner (2011);
- FIBA Europe League winner (2004);
- VTB League and Russian champion (2023);
- 8-time Russian League runner-up (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2021),
- 7-time Russian League bronze winner (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2022),
- NEBL champion (2003),
- 3-time Russian Cup winner (2003, 2009, 2014),
- 3-Russian Cup runner-up (2005, 2007, 2010),
- 3-time VTB United League runner-up (2010, 2012, 2016, 2021)