To bounce back

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

It’s interesting that the visit to German capitol becomes the part of the double week for the second season in a row. Though in January it was the first of two games.

Before departure to Sheremetyevo the red-and-blues had a video session and short shooting practice. Andrey Lopatin, Alexander Khomenko and Kenneth Faried stayed in Moscow.

REFEREES

Damir Javor (crew chief, Croatia), Gitys Vilius (Lithuania), Uros Obrknezevic (Serbia).

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

We had a very disappointing performance yesterday [vs UNICS], especially in the first half. It was disappointing in the way we approached the game, so we need to bounce back, to be ready for the next game mentally and physically.

Nikita Kurbanov, CSKA forward:

The preparation was mostly theoretical, we also worked on our mistakes made in previous game. Overall we should be ready for the serious game. ALBA plays fast-paced offensive basketball, they run, they switch, they are aggressive. Besides, they play at home. Therefore we have to approach the game absolutely serious and with full concentration. The opponents have good shooters like Lo, so we also need to play aggressive defense and try to not allow open shots to them.

CLOSE RELATIONS

Daniel Hackett and ALBA’s Maodo Lo and Louis Olinde were teammates at Brose Bamberg during the 2017-18 season.

CSKA guard Marius Grigonis played for ALBA during the 2017-18 season as a teammate of Jonas Mattisseck, Tim Schneider, Kresimir Nikic and Luke Sikma.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Johannes Voigtmann has made at least 1 three-point shot in five of his last six games.

Marius Grigonis has made at least 1 three-point shot in six of his last seven games.

Will Clyburn has made 14 consecutive free throws.

Will Clyburn is tied for sixth in scoring with 14.9 per game, and Tornike Shengelia is ninth with 14.4 points per game.

Alexey Shved ranks ninth in assists with 4.2 per game.

Shved ranks 13th on the all-time charts with 844 assists. Nando De Colo is 12th with 855 and counting.
Marius Grigonis is ranked third all-time in free throw accuracy at 92.1%.

Shved is seventh all-time with 443 three-point shots made for his career. Milos Teodosic is sixth with 471.

Shved ranks 10th all-time in scoring with 2,910 points. Jan Vesely of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is ninth with 2,918 and counting.

Shved is in 11th place all-time with 595 free throws made for his career. Mike James of AS Monaco is 10th with 605 and counting.

Milutinov ranks seventh on the all-time list with 483 offensive rebounds. Jan Vesely of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is fifth with 503 and counting.

PAST MATCHUPS

Wins/losses: 9-6

1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – ALBA: 67-69 (-2)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: ALBA – CSKA: 78-76 (-2)
1998-99 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: ALBA – CSKA: 63-70 (+7)
1998-99 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: CSKA – ALBA: 86-75 (+11)
1999-00 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – ALBA: 71-76 (-5)
1999-00 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: ALBA – CSKA: 81-76 (-5)
2000-01 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: ALBA – CSKA: 80-77 (-3)
2000-01 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – ALBA: 89-86 (+3)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Top 16. ALBA – CSKA: 57-75 (+18)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – ALBA: 80-65 (+15)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Regular Season. ALBA – CSKA: 68-84 (+16)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – ALBA: 95-66 (+29)
2019-20 – Euroleague. Regular Season. ALBA – CSKA: 66-82 (+16)
2020-21 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – ALBA: 88-93 (-5)
2020-21 – Euroleague. Regular Season. ALBA – CSKA: 68-71 (+3)

SHORT DOSSIER

ALBA Berlin, Germany

Founded: 1989
Colors: dark-blue, yellow
Homecourt: Mercedes-Benz Arena (16,000)
Supervisory Board: Dr. Axel Schweitzer, Dieter Hauert
CEO: Marco Baldi
Head coach: Israel Gonzalez
Website: www.albaberlin.de
Accomplishments: Korac Cup winner (1995); 10-time German champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2020, 2021); 10-time German Cup winner (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020)